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IN THE CITIES

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 3, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 44.

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IN THE CITIES

By Ole Andres Olsen

A Plea for the Foreign Population of Our Cities and Country

MUCH is being done to send the gospel to other lands, and to enlighten the heathen nations concerning the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. This is as it should be; for none too much interest can be shown in bringing the last warning message to all parts of the world in these closing moments of time. But while our minds are directed to the needs of peoples and nations in far-away lands, we must not overlook the great and equally needy and important foreign field here in the United States.
GROUP OF SLAVIC-BOHEMIAN BELIEVERS IN NEW YORK CITY
GROUP OF SLAVIC-BOHEMIAN BELIEVERS IN NEW YORK CITY
It is well known that there are a large number of foreigners in this country; but I feel certain that few have any just appreciation of the vastness of the foreign population of our cities and country.
When one stands for a little time at the immigration landing, where he can see the thousands, and hundreds of thousands, of immigrants coming from the European countries and landing on our shores, he appreciates the vast numbers of these people and their need as he can in no other way. Steamer after steamer, vessel after vessel, empties its living freight at the receiving station at Ellis Island in numbers beyond the belief or comprehension of those who do not take the pains to investigate it.
OUR SLAVIC EVANGELIST HOLDING A STREET MEETING AMONG THE SLAVIC-BOHEMIANS IN NEW YORK CITY
OUR SLAVIC EVANGELIST HOLDING A STREET MEETING AMONG THE SLAVIC-BOHEMIANS IN NEW YORK CITY
To give the reader a better idea of the increasing flood of immigrants, let me refer to the fact that in 1906 the total number was 1,100,735. Where do they all locate? Government statistics for that year tell us that thirty-four per cent settled in New York, over eighteen per cent in Pennsylvania, six and one-half per cent in Massachusetts, a little larger per cent in Illinois, and so on.
The writer has had some opportunity to see the needs of the heathen in Africa and the South Sea islands, but I have not met any conditions that plead more earnestly for the gospel of salvation than what I have seen in New York and other great cities of this country. Truly we have, right here at home, a mission field whose condition is pleading most earnestly for the message of salvation; and as the providence of God has brought these people to our shores, it would certainly be a very wicked thing if we should be indifferent or negligent to our God-given responsibility for this most needy and destitute part of the Master's vineyard. Therefore let us rally to the call of God, and take up this work with an earnestness, a zeal, which we have not as yet manifested. O. A. OLSEN. Chicago, Ill.