p. 15 | New York City by G. B. Starr

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 12, 1909

New York City

By G. B. Starr

Quite contrary to our expectations, the providence of God, through the voice of the General Conference, directed our steps to this great city, the metropolis of the United States.

Joining Sister E. G. White in Philadelphia, we spent one week there at the sanitarium, in counsel with the city and sanitarium workers. Coming to New York with Sister White, on Friday, June 18, we found a meeting in progress at Sixty-eighth Street, and the conference workers and church-members in attendance. Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell and Elders E. W. Farnsworth and C. S. Longacre were conducting the services. Sister White joined them, and spoke once on the Sabbath, and notwithstanding the combined noise of two elevated and one surface street-car lines, she succeeded in making herself heard.

On Sunday, June 20, a general meeting was held at Newark, N. J. About three hundred of our people were in attendance, including the conference officers, ministers, and workers of the New Jersey Conference. The people came early, and the hall was filled to its utmost capacity. Finding the people in waiting nearly three quarters of an hour before the appointed time, Dr. D. H. Kress and I improved the time to talk to them on the love and mercy of God and his great plans to fit his people to reflect his glory and finish his work. Sister White then spoke with more than usual freedom. She stood the long carriage ride from 17th St., New York, to Newark, N. J., well; and after lunch at the hospitable home of Elder W. H. Smith, rode back again to New York. In the afternoon Dr. Kress and the writer again spoke to the people, blending in perfect harmony the medical-evangelistic truths of the third angel's message. It was a good day, and will enter into the life experience of all in attendance.

After the departure of all the general laborers, Mrs. Starr and I were left alone, with a small interest at Sixty-eighth St., New York City. The noise was a great strain upon my voice, but the Lord helped me, and in spite of my fears I was enabled to make the people hear. We succeeded, however, after a long and diligent search, in finding a quiet and well-located allotment at One Hundred Eighty-seventh St. and St. Nicholas Ave., where the tent is now located, with an increased attendance of intelligent people. About two hundred were present on Sunday night.

Dr. D. H. Kress is with us, and is speaking every night with much freedom, and the people express their unqualified appreciation of the blending of the medical and evangelical truths. It seems to meet a want they have long felt. Usually we each speak from twenty-five to thirty minutes at each service.

We are expecting Dr. Lauretta Kress and a trained nurse this week, to unite with Mrs. Starr in a school of health.

It has cost a considerable sacrifice to release the Drs. Kress for this work. But the Lord has shown us that the medical and the evangelistic work should be united in the effort in behalf of New York City, and we have confidence in moving out in the path that he points out. We see a great work and a great future before us. In later articles we will speak of the needs of New York City.

We have had two baptisms in the Hudson River since our arrival here. Nine persons were baptized. Five of these were taking their first stand; four were rebaptisms. All have united with the church.

We are happy, and of good courage, and in good health. Pray for the work in New York. G. B. STARR.