West Africa by D. C. BABCOCK

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1906

West Africa

By D. C. BABCOCK

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE.—I had occasion to call on the leading Baptist minister the other day, and found he had arranged to have a talk on the Sabbath question and other truths. He is the one with whom I conversed concerning a church they have and use but little. We have decided to ask them to let us have it, that we may have a place in which to hold public meetings.

This minister arranged for other ministers to meet us, and together have a study over the Sabbath question. The others did not appear; but with all frankness and confidence he opened the question. The Lord helped, and before I left him, I sold him a copy of “Bible Readings,” and supplied him with “Who Changed the Sabbath?” “The Lord’s Day,” and other tracts.

Last Sunday, Canon Cole, of the English church, made a public statement that the Seventh-day Adventists, now located with their mission on Rawdon Street, are right on the Sabbath question.

Sunday, after services, an English church minister came and spent about three hours with us, considering the Sabbath question.

Mrs. Babcock is quite successful in selling books to the ministers, and there seems to be little opposition. Our books sell with little difficulty, and the people are anxious to get them. To one lady I sold a copy of “Bible Readings,” seven copies of “Last Day Tokens,” and seven of “His Glorious Appearing.” My sales have been in a very small compass,—not more than one square in an ordinary city,—and have amounted to four pounds. We are endeavoring to do our work systematically.

A young Methodist lady, now teaching school, has decided to take up the canvassing work, and has already begun preparation for it.

There are many other interesting features of our work, which I can not mention at this time, but we are arranging for future work as fast as possible. I believe that now is the time for us to make a decided move for the work in West Africa; and while we need not make any great display, we need to set our stakes so solidly that they will not be pulled up. We need not spend any great amount of money in locating a place to train our workers, but we need a small beginning, so that no time may be lost, our health fail, and the work again be retarded. The city is not the place for our training-school. We need to be where we can have land to till, and come as near as possible to meeting our expenses. There is no difficulty in raising good vegetables and fruits here. Cabbage grows quite large and solid, also tomatoes, and many other things that we raise in the States.

I am very anxious to see the canvassing work established so that it will bear its own responsibility.

D. C. BABCOCK.