p. 20 | South Africa by R. C. PORTER; HATTIE PORTER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 24, 1908

South Africa

By R. C. PORTER; HATTIE PORTER

It was nearly five and a half months from the time we left home until we landed in Africa. We never enjoyed labor in any field better than we did during that period. It was a great pleasure to us to visit the Avondale School. We had heard that it was established in direct accord with the instruction given through the Testimonies, when both men of state and those in charge of our work thought it impossible to make the school a success in such a barren region.

The prosperity of the school has been a marvel to our people, and also to the men of state, who expected to see the enterprise meet with certain defeat. The farm land is not the best. It, however, abounds with oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapes, strawberries, and other fruits, and a great variety of vegetables. It was a little test of faith to establish the school in the bush, in the face of every prediction of failure, but the word came that the school should be established in that locality, and it was established in the faith of that word. It is also a matter of interest that great care has ever been taken by those in charge of the work there, and especially by the managers of the school, to carry it on in close conformity to the instruction in the Testimonies. It is therefore an all-round educational institution. It is a thoroughly industrial training-school. Its agricultural and horticultural departments are very practical, and supply nearly all the produce of their kind that is used during the year for the school. The printing plant, the health food factory, and the tent factory are all sources of revenue to the school. The carpenter shop manufactures much of the furniture used in the school and the sanitarium; and the blacksmith and machine-shop gives a practical training in those kinds of work. Recently an electric plant has been installed, most of the work being done by the students.

Although there has never been a time when there were many full-paying students, and more recently, on account of a financial depression in Australia, the number of full-paying students has been reduced to the minimum, yet the school has always been a financial success. The instruction in the school is of a character to develop workers who have a practical education and are sound in the faith.

The sanitarium, like the school, began small. In fact, that is the way the Lord does his work through the gospel. The sanitarium was at first located near the school. Afterward, as its patronage increased, it was established in a suburb of Sydney. They now have a neat, spacious building in a most beautiful and healthful location, with delightful surroundings, and a good patronage. The call of Dr. D. H. Kress to America affected the patronage for a time, yet under the faithful labors of the Drs. Richards and the careful business management of Brother A. W. Semmens, and the co-operation of a band of loyal nurses and helpers, the patronage is gaining, and there is every indication that the institution will soon be operating to its fullest capacity. We are glad to say that the workers in these institutions are all loyal to every principle of the message. Their hope of prosperity in the work in which they are engaged is in God. There is no fear of their being disappointed while they lean upon his almighty arm.

I can not speak too highly of the efficiency of the work of the cafés in Sydney and Melbourne. Both these cafés are conducted on strictly hygienic principles, and both cook their foods in a tasty and palatable way, while adhering to right principles of dietetics. This is a point which should be given more study by the rank and file of our people.

On leaving Australia after a two months' visit, we were impressed with the remarkable growth of the work in that and surrounding countries. The book work has prospered there as in no other field. To attend the meetings of the Australasian Union Conference and see the plans laid for pushing the work in the island fields, one is reminded of the work of the General Conference of earlier years. No one who sees how the Australasian Union Conference is pushing the work in the island territory will regret the money furnished that field when in its early struggles it was gaining a foothold amid great difficulties. Its time for calling for appropriations is now in the past. Like the European field, it now joins the General Conference in pushing the work in the regions beyond.

We have now reached Africa. We have been here but a short time, and can say but little of the work in this field. What we have seen of it impresses us more favorably than we had expected. We find Durban a beautiful city by the seaside, in Natal. It is a modern city, and in spite of the terrible financial depression that has befallen this country, it is filled with the bustle and stir of business activity.

Cape Town is one of the prettiest cities to be found anywhere. Old Table Mountain rises up far above all its surroundings, and forms a beautiful background for the city. From its crest both the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean are in full view. It is distressing, however, to see the many poor people who have known luxury, but having reached out too far in times of prosperity, have now become bankrupt and penniless. Piece by piece they have sold their household effects to buy bread, until all is gone. The worst does not yet seem to be over. This affects the financial situation in our work.

There is a bright side to it, however. These people who were once so prosperous, and have now met with reverses, can take time to study the truth. Their former friends have deserted them. Their old associations are broken up, and I am convinced that, after all, it is a kindness to them that they have sustained a financial loss. Many of them may now be reached by the truth if a suitable effort can be made. We are of good courage.

R. C. PORTER, HATTIE PORTER.