p. 368 | SHIP LABOR IN ENGLAND by William Ings

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1880

SHIP LABOR IN ENGLAND.

By William Ings

DURING the quarter ending June 30, reading matter, as follows, has been placed on vessels sailing from Southampton; viz., 1,453 English, 74 French, 159 German, and 207 Danish, Swedish, and Dutch periodicals; also 7,096 pages of tracts in the English language, 9,066 in German, 1,798 in Swedish, 1,052 in Danish, 164 in French and Italian. Total number of periodicals, 1,893; pages of tracts, 19,176. A portion of these publications were sold, for which $32.08 were received; also $1.88 was received on donations. No. of ships visited, 157.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The ship Durham, loaded with wheat from San Francisco, had received publications from our tract-distributer at that place. On its arrival here we found the crew much interested, especially in the writings of Sister White.

A large steamer on the P. and O. line, to the East Indies, received packages of our publications, which were read with deep interest by both passengers and crew. On her last voyage they desired more reading matter. The steward gave me two shillings six pence to help in the work, and said he would see the captain and others and ask them to contribute toward the same object.

The steward of a steamer sailing to the Brazils gave the papers and tracts to the natives of that country, and did not have enough to supply the demand.

A captain of an English vessel bought a few copies of the SIGNS, and was so much interested that he took over $6.00 worth of books.

Some copies of the SIGNS and some tracts were placed on a ship in San Francisco, and were read by all on board. The captain is fully convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and speaks in the highest terms of Sister White's writings. He is an earnest man. I sold him over $5.00 worth of publications.

I visited a ship which supplies light-houses with oil. The captain bought some papers, attended one meeting at Ravenswood, and was much interested in Bro. Loughborough's discourse. He expressed a wish to help us by placing our publications in the fifty-seven light-houses which he was to visit. Accordingly he left us, taking with him fifty-seven packages of reading matter, and promising to visit Ravenswood on his return in one year from that time.

I placed four packages of publications on a steamer bound for the East Indies. Two of the packages were intrusted to persons who would hand them to others, and two were retained for the ship. These were read with eagerness. One man, a Frenchman, was so pleased with Les Signes that he wrote to Bro. Andrews and wished to

become a subscriber. The steward who related these facts treated me with great kindness. He gave me two shillings six pence toward the work, and pressed me to dine on the ship.

A captain of a small sailing vessel, which runs between this port and the Isle of Wight, since reading our publications, has quit the use of tobacco and intoxicating drinks, overcome the habit of using profane language, and is now a praying man. He says he is much troubled about the Sabbath question; that it is no use to attempt to serve God, and, at the same time, trample his Sabbath under foot. He bought Thoughts on Revelation, Ministration of Angels, Eleven Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, and became a subscriber for the SIGNS and Instructor.

These are some of the items of interest since my last quarterly report. Truly the Lord is blessing the work, for which my heart responds with gratitude, and in consequence of which I feel a greater desire to be useful in my Master's vineyard. WM. INGS.