British Columbia by Edward C. Widgery

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 9, 1907

British Columbia

By Edward C. Widgery

THIS is an important mission field, being the gateway to the great Northwest Territory of Canada. It was organized into a conference about four years ago, and during the year just ended, has been generously assisted by the Pacific Union Conference. The tithe has increased threefold over the previous year, and the prospects are that the mission will soon be self-supporting. The small band of faithful workers have toiled unceasingly, and there are now about one hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers scattered over this vast region.

Vancouver is the principal city, with a population of about fifty-five thousand; representatives from all nations are there eagerly seeking the “almighty dollar,” as there is a great boom in real estate.

A good work is being done in house-to-house canvassing. The saloons and restaurants are visited regularly every Saturday night, and an average of fifty periodicals are sold. Personal talks are given, and tracts, embracing points of the message, are distributed. Then every office in the city is canvassed once a month, with Life and Health, Liberty, and Bible Training School.

We also have a missionary society in connection with the church. Much of our valuable literature is being put in boxes in railway depots and car barns, and in other public places. These efforts, watered by prayer, will surely bring a harvest of souls.

One circumstance is worthy of note: Two young men who were driven out of San Francisco by the earthquake, came here, evidently led by the Spirit, as they came to the home of one of our sisters to board. She brought them to church, and eventually they accepted the truth, and to-day are earnest workers.

For several years, those in charge of the conference affairs have had their attention drawn northward. After an investigation was made, a broad and needy field presented itself, the Indian work giving evidence of being no small factor.

Brother O. E. Davis was invited to connect with this department of the work, he being the pioneer seventh-day representative in that section—Port Simpson and Skeena River districts. He made a careful study of the native life and language, and soon was in a position to instruct the many who came to him for help.

The Spirit of God had been working, however, far in advance of any earthly agent, and an interesting history could be written, and perhaps will be in the near future, by the workers themselves. Suffice it to say that at this writing, Henry D. Pearce, a young and influential native, being a lover of God’s Word, was led by the Spirit into the truth on the state of the dead, and with earnestness he began to preach it among the various tribes. Being faithful in the first step, God helped him to take the next, and the Sabbath was to him a precious truth. Now with consecrated zeal, he is preaching the full message, and is a strong support to the other laborers.

Steadily the interest in this field has been increasing; consequently, at our recent conference, plans were adopted that promise rapid development. Industrial enterprises for the education of the natives was the leading feature of these plans. Elder Watson was invited to connect with the work. He has gone to the field, and we believe success will attend this undertaking.

EDWARD C. WIDGERY.

Hammond, B. C.