The Work in Wisconsin by C. McREYNOLDS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1907

The Work in Wisconsin

By C. McREYNOLDS

THERE are engaged in carrying the work forward in its different departments in this State over one hundred workers, including ministers, Bible workers, canvassers, physicians, teachers, and those occupied in offices. In the evangelistic work we have the English, German, French, Danish-Norwegian, Swedish, Hungarian, Polish, and the Oneida Indian. At present the aggressive work for the English is being carried on at Eldwood, Stevens Point, Chippewa Falls, Appleton, Milwaukee, La Crosse, and Superior.

The German work is moving with a new force and interest. A series of meetings is in progress in Manitowoc, conducted by Elder Herrmann and Brethren Wise and Drews; and a number have already taken a stand for the truth.

The work among the Danish-Norwegians is progressing well in Milwaukee and Racine, in charge of Elder L. H. Christian. In Eau Claire this work is in charge of Brother Arnol Grundsett. In Milwaukee a new Danish church was organized during the present year; a number were added to the church in Racine, and a nice church building is being erected.

The Swedish work is in charge of Brother John Hoffman, who is laboring in the western part of the State. At present he is conducting a series of meetings near Grantsburg, assisted by Brother S. Mortensen, superintendent of the Swedish work in the United States. We have erected a church building at that place, and the work among that people is being built up in a substantial way.

We have one church of French-speaking people. A series of meetings was held by Elder Bourdeau there during the past summer. This church receives a visit occasionally from Prof. P. E. Shepler, who speaks to them in their language. They are doing some aggressive work with their own people.

A tent-meeting was conducted for the

Oneida Indians this fall by Brethren Hill and Cornelius, both Oneidas. There was a good interest, but the meeting was begun late, and on account of cold weather had to close before the work was finished.

Last winter a native Hungarian, Joseph Kovats, embraced the truth of the third angel’s message in Milwaukee. He became interested by reading the Signs of the Times, and attended the Bible Missionaries’ Training-school. He is now firmly established in the truths of the third angel’s message, and has been in the employ of the Wisconsin Conference for several months. He is making good progress among the people of that tongue, six more of whom are now observing the Sabbath.

Recently through the efforts of one of our Bible workers in Milwaukee a very intelligent Polish lady accepted the truth. She is now engaged in carrying it to the people of that tongue, and is making a retranslation of “Steps to Christ” in the Polish language. Since camp-meeting twenty-six have been baptized, and thirty have united with the various churches.

The canvassing work has been revived, so that more than fifty per cent increase has been made over previous years. A few young people are now engaged in selling our papers in the cities, devoting their entire time to this work, and making it self-supporting. We are sure that what these are doing, scores of others could do had they faith to make the effort.

The medical missionary work of the conference centers principally at the Madison Sanitarium, which is progressing encouragingly. The past year has been the best year in its history. Some of those engaged in the work there have been converted and baptized during the past few weeks.

The educational work has made rapid advancement within the last year. It was nearly a year ago that the main building, including schoolrooms and ladies’ dormitory, was burned at Bethel. The teachers and several of the students undertook the replacing of this building, asking only for means to be furnished to purchase materials. While the school has gone on with unabated interest, the building of the ladies’ dormitory has been accomplished, and in a few days, when the water plant is installed, it will be ready for occupancy. A new schoolhouse will be erected. The school is filled to its utmost capacity, and students are applying months ahead for a place during the winter term. This school has about two hundred acres of land, and nearly all of the provisions for the teachers and students are raised on the farm.

At Clear Water a nice building has been erected, with two schoolrooms and a commodious auditorium, which will be used in the future for church purposes. This is an intermediate industrial school, having about sixty-five acres of land. It is planned to erect a small dormitory there next year. This school is in charge of Prof. C. W. Hess. We can advise pupils who are in grades not above the tenth, who live in the eastern and northern sections of the State, to attend the Clear Water school. There are rooms and accommodations at present for a limited number of students in the school Home. Students in northern Michigan will also find good school advantages at Clear Water, not far from home.

Two school buildings have been erected at Hawthorne, near Superior, and school work will be carried on there this winter and throughout the coming year, with Prof. A. W. Hallock in charge. The conference now owns about four hundred acres of land there, and steps are being taken to install a sawmill and planer so that the teachers and students can cut the timber from the land and produce almost all the materials necessary in the construction of all the buildings that will be needed for the work of the school.

Besides these intermediate schools there are in progress twenty-one church-schools. God is blessing the efforts of the earnest, devoted teachers, and the children are being instructed in the principles of his kingdom.

It is planned to continue the training-school in Milwaukee this winter, for the purpose of developing Bible workers, and to conduct another, probably in Green Bay, especially for the training and development of canvassers.

It is thus plainly apparent that the efforts put forth by the brethren and sisters to support the cause in this State have not been in vain. We desire that all the credit and honor for the work that has been done be given to the Lord, to whom alone it is due. There is probably no place in the United States where a greater number of languages is spoken than in Wisconsin. Our opportunities to carry the message to the various nations of the earth by reaching some of these people, representing the different nationalities, are excellent. We earnestly ask your prayers and your co-operation in this work. C. McREYNOLDS.