England by Alexander Ritchie

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1905

England

By Alexander Ritchie

In May, 1904, we were called upon to leave Scotland, and labor in the South England Conference. I was taken sick, and had to go to the sanitarium, where I was treated most kindly by the doctor and all his helpers. On account of this illness it was rather late when we got into the field with our tent. Brother Alfred Bacon acted as tent master, and also helped in the speaking. We advertised the meetings with hand-bills, but failed to draw the people satisfactorily. We then utilized the leading papers of the district, which was Southeast London, and soon had a growing interest. We met some opposition in the meetings, but our attendance grew steadily. The newspapers printed half- and full-column reports of our discourses on the most striking themes, and probably about two hundred and fifty thousand of these papers containing our discourses on present truth were scattered over a wide territory. By the time we took down our tent, October 17, over twenty had taken their stand to keep all the commandments of God.

We continued the work in a high-class hall, which was the only one we could get, on Sabbaths and Sundays. We could not have the use of this hall on week nights, and would have been unable to pay the price if we could have had it. Our Sabbath and Sunday meetings were well attended, and the interest was excellent. Instead of evening meetings during the week, we got the whole company to work with tracts in packages, and by their faithful efforts over five thousand tracts on all points of present truth were distributed in the neighborhood. Mrs. Ritchie found many opportunities for giving Bible readings and making family visits, and I believe her work was appreciated.

A branch of the Good Health League was formed, and inaugurated by a public health dinner, and a lecture on the principles of vegetarianism by the writer. This was all well reported by the local press.

One of the best features of this company is the number of earnest young people who are more or less actively engaged in the work of the church. Six of them are in the canvassing work,—three give part of their time, and the other three all of their time, to the work,—and are making a success of it.

After all had been thoroughly instructed on all points of present truth, we called for Elder O. A. Olsen, our conference president, who baptized fifteen persons before leaving for Australia. At a later date the writer baptized six. September 30 Elder Andross, president of the British Union Conference, assisted by Prof. H. R. Salisbury, president of the South England Conference, and the writer, organized our little company into a church of twenty-eight members. Evening after the Sabbath, we celebrated the ordinances of the Lord’s house together, and enjoyed the service greatly. There was love and union in all hearts. The Sunday evening following we preached our last sermon there. The attendance and interest were both excellent, and the Lord blessed the word.

We left the Catford church with many regrets. We dearly love the brethren and sisters there, and pray that they may all prove faithful. Their Sabbath-school attendance is about fifty, and the church-membership twenty-eight. Twenty-five of these are paying tithe; last quarter they paid over one hundred and fifty dollars. There is still a good interest at this place.

We are now located at Plymouth, the famous old seaport from which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed for America. Recently it was my privilege to stand on the very spot from which they embarked for the New World. It is marked by a large flat stone bearing the inscription:— > “Mayflower > 1620.”

Now, their descendants, the spiritual “pilgrims and strangers on the earth,” are carrying the last message of mercy to every land.

We have met with the church here a few times, and have given them instruction on several subjects, but have not begun a public effort. This we hope to do soon in a small town a few miles from Plymouth, on the outskirts of which we have located our home. We ask an interest in your prayers, dear brethren and sisters in America.

The church we raised up in Scotland remains faithful and earnest, which is a cause for much thankfulness.

ALEXANDER RITCHIE.