The Saskatchewan Mission Field by H. S. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 14, 1908

The Saskatchewan Mission Field

By H. S. Shaw

Last summer we centered our entire force of laborers in the tent work in Regina, and it seemed at first that all we could do was fruitless. Finally, after a long, hard struggle with wind and weather, along with other more serious difficulties, we took down the tents, and changed our plans of labor. Elder A. C. Gilbert went to Moose Jaw, and began labor with literature, from which effort we now have hope of seeing fruit. Elder Paul Curtis had to look after the book work, so he could not enter into another public effort. Elder Christian Sulzle was asked to continue with literature in Regina, from house to house among the German people. Elder F. H. Conway was also asked to work with literature among the English in Regina, and Brother B. C. Haak was called to teach in the Manitoba school.

A few days before the German tent was taken down, three men came to Elder Sulzle's tent one night, after the evening service had closed, and asked that they might have a visit together about some points of our faith. They came thus ‘by night’ because the rulers of their church strictly forbad any of its members attending the meetings of any other denomination. They asked many questions, and the meeting continued till nearly two o'clock in the morning, when they departed making no comments, only saying they had enjoyed the study very much. Meanwhile another of their members—not daring to go in, for fear the church would find it out—listened outside in the shadow of the tent. This happened just before the series of German tent-meetings closed, and as far as we could see, there was nothing further in the matter which seemed to us of any particular consequence; so, on account of bad weather and lack of interest, the tent was taken down.

Things looked gloomy and uncertain at this point, but we felt that if possible some work should be started in Regina, and that somehow, at some time, something would come about to shed light on the situation. A few weeks later these men came to Elder Sulzle's home, and invited him to visit them. He did so, and began regular studies with them on some of the points of the third angel's message. Others of their church began to study with them, and after investigating for a few months, four or five men and their wives began keeping the Sabbath; among these were the three men who came to the tent at night. When they had become so interested in the Sabbath study, they each wrote a letter to the leaders of their church in Austria, asking their opinion about the matter, and their fatherly advice as to what they should do, now that they had learned of the true Sabbath, and could no longer look upon Sunday as a sacred day. These brethren had come from Austria with others, some of them being Servians, others Rumanians, and still others Slavonians, and were leaders of their church in this city.

When their letters were received in Austria, a conference was immediately called, and two days were spent in discussing the matter. A decision was finally reached. It was that these Regina brethren must drop these old Jewish ideas, or they must discontinue their leadership of the church, and be disfellowshipped from its communion. As no Scriptural authority was given for the statements made, these brethren only felt more settled that they were right. They felt that they had reached a crisis in their lives, and were determined to be loyal to God.

They then addressed carefully written letters to the leaders of their denomination in North America, explaining the condition of things to them. But these had already received letters from the council in Austria, instructing them to deal with those brethren in Regina who had departed from the faith of the church into Judaism. These leaders then called a conference of the three churches in Saskatchewan, and at this conference the Sabbath-keepers were excluded from the church.

This has caused a stir among that people. Some are investigating, to learn for themselves why it is that these hitherto faithful men and women have taken such a firm stand for the seventh-day Sabbath. Already in a church some miles distant, a number of persons have begun to keep the Sabbath, so that in both places there are now more than twenty faithful Sabbath-keepers, and others are on the point of deciding to obey. These Sabbath-keepers are all grown people, and in this number their children are not counted. There are still others who have begun to keep the Sabbath this year in other parts of the province.

We feel that we have great reason to thank the Lord for his guiding providence, and by his grace we are trying to follow the opening interests springing up in different parts of this field. Our courage was never better than now, and we are happy with the thought of being connected with the people whose God is the Lord.

H. S. SHAW.