p. 14 | Among the Foreigners at Home by J. F. BLUNT

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

Among the Foreigners at Home

By J. F. BLUNT

J. F. BLUNT

Great interest was manifested in the foreign work at the Los Angeles (Cal.) camp-meeting. The international rally, held Sunday afternoon, August 16, was a most notable one, and attracted an audience of about eighteen hundred persons. The program was presented at the conclusion of the three-o'clock service, the attendance being increased, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour.

Upon the grounds were representatives of thirty-two nationalities; but the meeting was intended especially to emphasize the need and the opportunity in the cosmopolitan cities of America for effective missionary work among the foreign colonies, from which may be gathered earnest workers, ready and willing to go to the lands afar off, and whose acquaintance with the customs and languages of their fields of labor will enable them, when assigned to missionary duty, to begin at once the preaching of the gospel.

The central part of the pavilion was reserved for those who were to take part in the exercises, in addition to those who could be accommodated on the platform. The front row of seats was occupied by single representatives of the various countries, carrying the national flags their respective fatherlands. Just behind them were about forty Mexicans, and back of these nearly fifty Russians were seated. On the rostrum, and back of the speakers, was a group of colored children from the Furlong church, and at one side of the tent were about one hundred fifty boys and girls belonging to the kindergarten and primary divisions of the conference Sabbath-schools.

As the unique procession filed in to the wide space reserved for the foreigners, the assembled audience clustered closer in and around the great tent, to witness the unusual spectacle. Then all arose and joined in singing that glorious old hymn of the nations, “All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name!” the diverse tongues and the varied dress of the international participants lending force to the stanza:— > “Let every kindred, every tribe, > > On this terrestrial ball, > > To Him all majesty ascribe, > > And crown him Lord of all.”

Prayer was offered in Spanish by Brother Jose Avendano, who, with his wife, is preparing for missionary work in Mexico. The colored children then clustered around the Bithorn organ on the front of the platform, and sang a song commemorative of the one sung long ago, as Jesus rode along on his triumphal entrance to Jerusalem.

The writer, who has supervision of the Spanish work, and had arranged the program, briefly referred to the Spanish service held at the camp-meeting in 1907, and explained the purpose of the present gathering, local missionary endeavor having developed other interests. After the singing of “Al Cielo Voy” (“To Heaven I Go”),—the Mexican company rising in their seats and turning to face the congregation,—he introduced Dr. B. E. Fullmer, who spoke of this gospel of the kingdom going to all nations, and told more in detail the story of the foreign work in Los Angeles.

The national representatives with flags then arose, waving their banners while the audience joined in singing, “Onward, Christian Soldiers!” As if in explanation of how this gospel of the kingdom is to be carried by the Christian army to every nation, the children rose, at the side of the tent, and sang, “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon,” thus emphasizing the fact that the battle is not ours but the Lord's, and that the children are pressing into the ranks for service under the standard of Prince Emmanuel, to finish the work in this generation.

Mrs. Augusta S. DeAngeles spoke on the “Darkness of Superstition,” which stands as a wall against the advance of the missionary in Spanish fields, her work being devoted to that people. She told of the follies, fostered by the priesthood, under which the Spanish-speaking people lie, referring particularly to the annual feast, celebrated even in some parts of Southern California, where one of the company, assuming a fantastic garb, rushes into the house, leaping and dancing, for the time impersonating the devil.

For the next number on the program, Mrs. Avendano sang in pure Castilian the Spanish hymn, “Cristo, Tu Voluntad,”—the opening line being, “Thy will, O Christ! be done in me.” The congregation was stilled immediately by this deeply devotional prayer, sung in the sweetness of enlightened understanding by one from the Mexican people, though never herself identified with Catholicism. There was also a Spanish address by Brother Juan Robles, interpreted by Mrs. DeAngeles. Brother Robles can speak both languages, but he chose to address the people in his native tongue, that the Spanish people present might more easily understand him.

Brother T. W. Carswell spoke of the work begun among the Russian people in Los Angeles. Not long ago about five thousand Molukanes, fleeing from oppression in Russia, found refuge in Southern California and Mexico. Devoted Christians, rejecting the mummeries of the Greek Catholic Church, they had been subjected to cruelties and injustice in their native land, and after long submission to great hardships in Russia, they had gone across the frontier, though pursued in many instances by the Cossacks, and made to swim deep rivers, or to traverse the wild steppes in winter. The advance guard of ninety-five thousand still left in Russia, this band of heroic people had found a welcome in America, to which land their brethren are looking with longing eyes, hoping for the time when they, too, can find an asylum beyond the seas, where they can have the fullest liberty in the worship of God.

One night some of these people walked into the missionary meeting of the Los Angeles church, with Mrs. Rosenthal, a Jewish lady of the congregation who had been able to communicate with them on account of her knowledge of the Russian language. They asked immediately, “Do you eat pork?” and having been informed that the Adventist people not only refrain from swine's flesh, but that they are temperate in all things, they had said, “Well, we have come to you for light.”

Since this eventful meeting, many visits have been exchanged, and by means of Bible work, carried on by the aid of an interpreter, it has been discovered that already the Molukanes believe many of the precious truths held dear by the Adventist people, whose better understanding of the Scriptures has been recognized with appreciation by the Russians.

Twice the Russians present arose in the center of the great tent to take part in the program, singing in their own language. The first selection was a hymn relating to the second coming of Christ; the second being words taken from the Psalms and other scriptures, reduced to musical notation. The bearded men and the daintily robed women, with their embroidered shawls over their heads and shoulders, constituted

a remarkable group, and the vast audience pressed close to witness the unusual spectacle. The Russians regard music even more highly than other peoples, as an adjunct of religious worship. They swayed backward and forward, waving their hands in an ecstasy of religious fervor, some of them weeping as the peculiar chant proceeded.

An address in Russian, given by the leader of the Molukanes, was interpreted by Brother Cabelius, and abounded in expressions of good-will and appreciation on account of the welcome accorded to the visitors. “We came to America,” he said, “supposing that we were leaving a land of true piety, but we found greater evidences of religious interest here than in the fatherland, and we rejoice that our lot has been cast in such pleasant places.”

Miss Jennie Ireland, through whose earnest efforts there has been built up in Los Angeles a thriving church of colored people, outlined the undertaking of missionary work among the colored people. The children from her congregation sang, “Tell It Again.”

Mrs. Sarah Haggard Payne, a prominent W. C. T. U. worker, who had come to the camp-meeting to assist, with other temperance workers, in the great temperance rally of the previous Sunday afternoon, and had accepted the third angel's message during the meeting, next sang a song of her own composition, “Jesus Is Coming Soon,” accompanying herself effectively on the autoharp.

Elder H. W. Cottrell, president of the Pacific Union Conference, spoke words of appreciation and encouragement for the mission workers, and the meeting was closed with the singing in the several languages of the hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” This was first sung on the occasion when Francis Murphy was about to make his circuit of the world in the interests of temperance. The benediction was pronounced by Prof. E. S. Ballenger.

The laborers in Los Angeles hope that systematic work may be instituted soon among the Chinese, the Japanese, the Greeks, and other foreign colonies. It had been intended to present in tangible form the achievements among the German people and the Scandinavian residents of Southern California, many of both these nationalities being identified with the church here. Promising workers are being developed among Mexicans, Russians, Scandinavians, Portuguese, Japanese, Koreans, Germans, and other foreign residents who have been reached by Bible readings, public meetings, or other means; and it is hoped by such local foreign work to provide missionaries who may bear the tidings of the soon-coming Saviour to their own lands, without the handicap under which others would go to take up work in languages unfamiliar to them.

Los Angeles, Cal.