p. 16 | Progress in the Australasian Union

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 6, 1908

Progress in the Australasian Union

By Ole Andres Olsen

We certainly have entered a most interesting period in the history of the message. The cheering reports of progress from all parts of the field are most encouraging and soul-inspiring. The reports that come through the good old REVIEW are very interesting reading. That the truth is making its way into the center of India, China, and Africa, and other far-away portions of the field, is certainly evidence that the message is fast hastening to completion.

I call to mind that some years ago the question was raised as to the possibility of attaining the very achievements that are now being experienced. It was rather difficult at that time for the minds of many to grasp the faith needed for such a possibility, but today it is a fact; and the end is not yet. As rapidly as men and means can be secured, what still remains of unentered fields will be occupied. Nothing can be more evident than that the work is to be quickly finished, and nothing can be more soul-cheering to the weary pilgrim. The race is almost completed, and the final victory is near at hand. No doubt there will be a severe conflict; faith will be tried, and loyalty to the message will be tested. Those who are true and faithful will soon rejoice in the glorious final triumph of the great controversy.

If the whole body of Seventh-day Adventists could but fully realize the situation, rise to it, and by a whole-hearted consecration put themselves and their means into the cause, how quickly the whole work might be accomplished! We are glad to see a decided awakening. The movement among the young people is of special interest and significance, and it seems to be the definite fulfilment of the last prophecy of the Old Testament—the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, before the great and terrible day of the Lord. The consecration of our young people to the Lord and to the mission work is one of the most interesting features of the situation at the present time. I have been greatly interested in reading the report of the recent Sabbath-school and Young People's Convention held in Ohio.

We are glad also to report progress in the work of the Australasian Union Conference. Our late council was a season of special interest. I think that all the members approached the meeting with some degree of anxiety and with much earnest prayer; for we all realized that much was at stake. The interesting openings that presented themselves with many urgent calls for help, and the small prospect of our ability to respond to them, was a source of much concern to all our minds. We felt that we were in need of special help and guidance from the Lord, that our deliberations might be directed by the Holy Spirit; and in this we were not disappointed. As we earnestly sought the Lord day by day, light came in, and to our great surprise we were able to do much, even more than we at first thought possible. Indeed, it was quite a surprise to us all, but we recognized in this the guiding hand of the Lord.

One of the interesting features was a definite plan to open work in New Guinea. This is a field toward which we have been looking for some time, but not until now could we see our way clear. It was decided for Brother and Sister S. W. Carr, who have had a good experience and have done efficient work in Fiji, to go on, with one or two native helpers, and open up the work in New Guinea. Preparations are already in progress. Brother and Sister Andrew Stewart, former students of the Avondale School, who have given proof of faithfulness in the work, have been called to fill the place made vacant by the removal of Brother and Sister Carr from Fiji. Brother and Sister Stewart are now on the ground, and are doing well. Of course it will take a little time for them to get hold of the details, and for that reason Brother Carr can not leave immediately.

The work is making very decided progress in Fiji. In his last letter Brother Parker speaks of another company of sixteen who have recently accepted the Sabbath and kindred truths of the message. Our training-school at Buresala, Fiji, is doing excellent work in preparing laborers for the field. This is as it should be. We feel the responsibility of making more of our schools among the islands that they may become efficient in training workers.

The work is onward also in Tonga, and we are making plans to strengthen the school work there in order to make it more of a missionary training-school than it has been in the past.

Brother Gates, who was present at the recent council and presented the needs of the far East, returned to Singapore almost immediately at the close of the council, with a small re-enforcement of workers, which will be increased from time to time. A wonderful opportunity is opening before us in that great district. We are greatly encouraged over the fact that our literature is being received so well. Brother Munson is busily at work translating and getting out books in the Malay. The edition of “Christ Our Saviour” in the Baba Malay is selling well, and the native brethren are taking hold of the work of selling our books and tracts in an encouraging manner. In a few days an edition of five thousand copies of this book will be printed in the Dutch Malay.

Our present difficulty seems to be to find the number of canvassers which the work demands. In fact, in every department of our work in this field we are running short-handed. All the conferences have cheerfully contributed men and means to meet the calls from the places needing assistance; and it is a source of much encouragement to know that the Lord's blessing is attending us.

We have all been made sad by the

illness and death that has visited our workers in Java. They have all been laid up with the fever, and Brother and Sister Teasdale were called to part with their oldest son, a bright boy twelve years of age. Such are the experiences and sacrifices encountered in our work. At the present time they are all improving in health, and are of good courage in the Lord, pressing forward in his work. How precious will be the ingathering at the great harvest! Together with the trials and perplexities, they are having many interesting experiences, and this is bound to become a very important field. The climate and sanitary conditions are in many ways very trying. The union conference has taken measures to provide a mountain home for the workers, and before another season comes, we hope that this will be in readiness so that the workers may have a place of refuge during the worst season of the year.

In the home field the work is making steady progress. School buildings are being erected at Cambridge, New Zealand, and the school is expected to be dedicated on the fourth of February, and opened for work immediately. Also in West Australia the school work has made a good start. We have found no small difficulty in supplying these schools with needed teachers and managers.

The Lord is blessing the work at the Avondale School in a very marked manner. The enterprises connected with the school there have grown to considerable proportions, so that at the present time it requires the presence of about seventy students to carry forward the work in hand. Really, the school is being carried on there continuously, for, during vacation, one or two classes are conducted daily. The Avondale Press, in connection with the Avondale School, is crowded with work. The expansion of the work in the islands increases the work of the Avondale Press. At the same time the Signs Office at Warburton is also crowded to its utmost capacity.

Special attention is being given to the missionary campaign work. The New South Wales Conference has experienced much blessing from this work, and during the next year the work will receive special attention in other States. The late camp-meeting in the New South Wales Conference was the largest and most interesting meeting yet held in the State. The Spirit of the Lord was present in a very marked manner.

While the message is going with rapidity, and the power of the Lord is being manifested, it is evident that the enemy is working with increased energy, and many are making definite decisions against the light and the truth.

An interesting feature in our work in this field is the movement among our young people. During the year the young people of each of our conferences have supported laborers in the mission field. This effort is bearing excellent fruit. The attendance at our Avondale School will be larger during the coming year than at any previous time, notwithstanding the opening of schools in New Zealand and West Australia. Our people are beginning to sense more than ever in the past the importance of working for our young people and of getting them into the work. May the Lord hasten forward the work to its glorious consummation. O. A. OLSEN.