My Visit to the European Field
By A. G. DANIELLS
At the close of the union meeting held at Birmingham, I attended a general meeting of our brethren and sisters in Scotland. In making the journey to Scotland we traveled through the eastern part of the kingdom, a section I had not seen before. This is called the agricultural part of England. Although the farms are not so large as many in the United States, and the land has been cultivated for centuries, yet the crops were heavy. The bright-green pastures, and the golden fields of wheat, oats, and barley presented a beautiful scene to look upon. The farms in England are kept in excellent condition. On our way to Edinburgh, we spent one night at New-Castle-on-Tyne. Here we met Elder D. H. Parsons, who went from California to England. He and Brother Gilliatt were conducting a series of tent-meetings in the city. They had already brought out one company, and were just beginning a second series of meetings. Elder Conradi spoke to the congregation the night we were in the city. We were pleased to meet at this place Brother and Sister Brandt, who were numbered among the company of canvassers who went from the States to Great Britain in the spring of 1902. They have been faithful, successful workers, and are loved by our brethren in England. At present they are operating a hygienic restaurant in New-Castle-on-Tyne. They use this opportunity of meeting the people to place the third angel’s message before them. Our visit to Edinburgh, the city of John Knox’s fearless, strenuous life, was full of interest and satisfaction. We visited the birth-room in Edinburgh Castle of King Edward First, and the church of St. Giles, founded by Knox, in which he preached until his death. But the most interesting and impressive place in Edinburgh is the home of Knox, where he lived, prayed, wrote, and died. The interior of the house is well preserved. The following resolute statement which he had painted as a border around the top of the walls of his general sitting-room is still perfectly legible:— I am in a place where I am demanded of my conscience to speak the truth, and therefore the truth I speak. Impugn it whoso list.
A little room called “Knox’s praying room” helps to reveal the secret of this earnest, zealous Reformer’s successes in Scotland in those stormy days. The general meeting was held in Paisley, a manufacturing city near Glasgow. It might almost be considered a suburb of Glasgow. The most of our people in Scotland attended this meeting. They came from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Kirkcaldy, and other6parts. Our meetings were held in the tent that had been used during the summer in that city. It was a great pleasure to meet these earnest brethren and sisters of Scotland. They were hungry to hear the message, and were eager to arrange the best possible plans for its rapid and successful proclamation in their native land. They are selling our Present Truth, our British health journal, and our denominational books, with most encouraging success. Sabbath-keepers are being raised up at different points, and here and there a church is established. The people are conservative, and slow to take a stand with us; but when they do come out, they come to stay. Our work in Scotland is in its infancy, but it has taken firm root, and will never retreat. The experience of our ministers, Bible workers, and canvassers shows that earnest work along the lines we generally follow in other countries will reach hearts and lead them to embrace the truth. Hence in the counsels and proceedings of the meeting our usual plans of work were carefully considered, and steps were taken for aggressive work in all directions. It was truly enjoyable to meet in Scotland workers whose acquaintance I had formed in other countries. There were Brother and Sister MacLay of Nebraska, Brother Earnest Taylor of Texas, Brother Wm. Knight of Australia, Brother Appleton and Brother and Sister Bacon of England. These dear friends are pressing the battle in Scotland. They love their work and the people for whom they are laboring. I was very glad to meet Elder Gauterau and his wife, and to find them enjoying the best of health and of excellent courage in the Lord. It was arranged for Brother Gauterau to make the North England Conference his field of labor. Elder MacLay was elected superintendent of the mission, with a good advisory committee. Brother MacLay will make his headquarters in Edinburgh, the cleanest, and in many respects the finest, city in Great Britain. Our brethren in Scotland welcome our American workers; they thoroughly appreciate all that has been done to establish and build up the work in that field, and ask us to do as much more as we can for Scotland. Let us pray for our workers and work in that part of our Master’s vineyard. Scotland will yet furnish sturdy, self-sacrificing, persevering missionaries for mission fields in British colonies.