Words From the Late Walter G. Bond

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1915

Words From the Late Walter G. Bond

Just about the time the cable message came from Spain bringing the sad word that Elder Walter G. Bond, superintendent of the Spanish Mission, had passed away, a letter was received from him. Evidently it constitutes his last message to the Mission Board. We therefore give it here almost entire. It was written from a town in southern Spain, while Elder Bond was out among the scattered believers. The letter was written in reply to one from the secretary of the Mission Board reporting that the believers in other lands meant to stand by the needs of the missions of the European Division in these war times:—

“BAEZA, Oct. 16, 1914. “DEAR BROTHER: Your kind letter reached me yesterday. I was indeed glad to hear from you. While we have not been able to obtain our money regularly from Gland, thus far our branch publishing office in Barcelona has been able to keep things afloat. We are endeavoring to keep expenses down as low as possible. The most of us are spending some time selling the special number of our paper. We have just now received our first money from Switzerland since the war broke out. . . .

“The annual meeting for Spain was appointed for August 19-24. After war was declared we heard nothing whatever from the union office for a number of weeks, so did not know that the meeting had been called off until two weeks after it was over. We were much disappointed in not having Elders Tieche and Fitzgerald with us, as had been planned. But the Holy Spirit was present, and bestowed an abundant blessing. Nine adults were baptized during the meeting, all but one coming directly from Romanism. The evening meetings were well attended by those not of our faith.

“I have just been visiting the believers along the Mediterranean coast. Nearly all are of excellent courage and are working to advance the message. A dozen or more wanted baptism, but it was thought best for them to wait awhile.

“I am now in Baeza, a city of fourteen thousand inhabitants, in the province of Jaen, in Andalusia. Here one of our native brethren has been laboring for some time. But it has been a continual warfare with the priesthood. Ignorance, superstition, priests, and fanaticism abound, making it probably the most difficult place that we have thus far entered. But even here we hope for fruit.

“At present our publishing house is paying expenses, I think, and our canvassers are all selling enough to keep them alive. Our courage is good, and our one desire is to see this work triumph and to triumph with it.

“Mrs. Bond and the family are in Barcelona. All were well the last I heard from them.

“I hope that we shall be able to get our money from now on, but something might happen to prevent, so here is our list. . . . I shall not write more, as it is almost Sabbath.

“WALTER G. BOND.”