Newfoundland by C. H. KESLAKE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1908

Newfoundland

By C. H. KESLAKE

We are thankful to be able to report that during the year 1907 the work in Newfoundland made some advancement. Besides accessions to the faith, there has been marked improvement in the matter of finances. The tithe was increased more than fifteen per cent over that of the previous year, the same being true also of the annual offering. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,” is a command filled with the rich promises of Him who says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath.” The church here in St. John’s is seeking to be faithful in all of God’s commands.

Since my last report the truth has obtained a foothold in another of the outports, as all places along the coast, other than St. John’s are called. In July I went north as far as Englee, a small fishing town on what is known as the French Shore. The weather at the time was all that one could desire, making life on the ocean wave one of pleasure. On the way we passed numerous large icebergs, one day passing no less than twenty-two of these ocean giants which are such a menace to navigation.

En route, we stopped off at Twillingate, and visited Brother F. W. Johnston. While there, it was our privilege to speak to the friends on the subject of religious liberty. Some who had thought that Sunday legislation was all right were led to see that, after all, it was fraught with evil. One person thus convinced gave us a small donation toward the printing which we later secured. Brother Johnston has sought to do faithful work in the face of great difficulties. At this writing there are five or six persons in Twillingate who are keeping the Sabbath, although not all of these have as yet been baptized. In recent letters Brother Johnston writes encouragingly of the work, and hopes for souls.

Proceeding to Englee, I reached that place late the following Sunday night, and was welcomed by the friend whom I had met on the steamer “Portia” the year before, formerly a Catholic, but now a Methodist. For the next two weeks I found myself virtually buried from the outside world, as the telegraph system in Newfoundland does not extend so far north, and mail is received in the summer only once in two weeks. During four months in the winter, mail is received but once, being carried overland by a courier with dogs and kometicks.

I soon discovered that my presence in Englee was considered an unwelcome intrusion by the local pastor. However, the people, who soon learned that I was a Seventh-day Adventist, expressed a wish to hear my message, and invited me to speak in their church, much to the displeasure of the pastor. Having heard something of our faith, and feeling that he could not meet the arguments in favor of our position, he decided to leave his flock and go to another place until I should leave there.

Anxious to disarm prejudice and to avoid unjust criticism, I told the friends that, being an Adventist, I did not wish to appear to take undue advantage of the situation, and instead of preaching in the church I preferred to do so in the open air, with a rock for a pulpit. But they would not have it thus, and despite the protests of the pastor, ere he left, insisted upon my using the church.

Unfortunately as man would look upon it, I landed when the fishing season was at its height, when men, women, and children were busy from about three o’clock in the morning until as late as eleven, and sometimes later, in the night, catching and salting their fish. Except on Sundays, two of which I spent with them, I had very little opportunity for public speaking; but in the daytime, as opportunity offered, I visited the homes, sold or gave away literature, and prayed with and read to them out of the Book of life. As for my hostess, I found her hungering for the truth, an appetite for which had been created by our English publication, Present Truth, and tracts that I had previously sent her and her husband. Before I left, she became thoroughly convinced that we had the truth, and has since written me that she and another person have yielded themselves to obey. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay with these dear people, and regretted that I could not remain longer; but, the Lord willing, I shall return there when the ice disappears, to help them still further.

Another minister with greater influence than the local pastor already mentioned, has gone to Englee for the purpose of undoing our work. The shortness of the time made it impossible for us to present even the principal points of our faith at all perfectly. Nevertheless, this pastor has been powerless to shake the faith of the two mentioned, although among other things he was armed with Elder Canright’s “Seventh-day Adventism Renounced.” We earnestly pray that God will keep these dear souls, and make them a means of reaching others, for I am persuaded that there are other honest souls in Englee.

In returning home I visited a lone sister, Mrs. Welshman at Shoe Cove. To go there I had to land at Tilt Cove and be rowed around to Shoe Cove by boat. By this means I discovered what I had not noticed before, that small groups of houses are built apparently in the holes in the rocks. This reminded me quite forcibly of the prophecy in Jer. 16:16. I found Sister Welshman of good courage, and remained with her a few days, held two meetings at her home, and then continued my way homeward. I again called at Twillingate, this time to baptize a young man who recently decided to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

At Pilley’s Island, where the steamer called, a Catholic priest whom I had previously met, came on board. The pleasure of meeting was mutual, and, being together several hours, we freely conversed upon religious topics. He acknowledged that his church had changed the Sabbath, that she had persecuted, and expressed his abhorrence of religious coercion; and when confronted with the fact that his church was seeking temporal power and meant to enforce Sunday by law, he shrugged his shoulders, and frankly said, “Well, I don’t care if it is my church; the whole thing is wrong.” I studied with him the twenty-three hundred days. He followed me very carefully, and finally exclaimed, “Then the end must be very near.” I believe that some day he will see and accept the truth. He agreed to read some of our literature which I promised to send him.

That same week I reached home, after being absent seven weeks, thankful that so many opportunities had been given to declare the truth, and that a “door of utterance” had been opened in Englee.

C. H. KESLAKE.