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The British Field

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 4, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 18.

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The British Field

By Ole Andres Olsen

WE are much cheered by the good reports that come to us from week to week through our good REVIEW. It is a source of joy to note the rapid progress of the work in the various countries of the world. Truly the message is rising, and everything goes to show that it will soon assume the proportion and power that will characterize the loud cry.
We who are at a distance are following the movements at Washington with intense interest. All the developments there go to demonstrate the timeliness of the removal of our denominational headquarters. Truly the Lord is leading, and his blessing is over the work in a marked manner.
The British field can join the chorus in praise and gratitude to God for blessings and progress in all branches of the work. The year 1904 saw most encouraging advancement. We have our difficulties and perplexities to meet, but, notwithstanding this, the Lord has greatly blessed and prospered the work in every department. During 1903, 147 souls were baptized; during 1904, 269, an increase of 122. Twelve churches were organized, the net increase in members being 184. The increase in tithe was £195 15s 7¼d, and offerings to missions £125 17s 10¾d.
Yet these figures can not convey the full truth of the situation. Already during the first quarter of the present year there has been a rapidly increasing interest and growth in the work far above that of last year for the corresponding period.
The Lord is greatly blessing our training college. The enrolment for the present year has passed the ninety mark. But it is not the numbers that we appreciate so much as the spirit of earnestness among the students, and the quality of work being done.
The blessing of the Lord is also very manifest in our publishing and book work. The circulation of Present Truth and Good Health is steadily increasing, while our churches are active in the circulation of tracts and small publications. Many are beginning to keep the Sabbath as the result of reading our literature.
Our sanitarium and health work is also being much blessed, not only in the matter of patronage in our institutions, but also in bringing people into the truth.
As at Washington, so here in England the Sabbath question is coming to the front. A number of articles have appeared in the dailies under the significant heading, “The Godless Sunday.” Preparations are in progress for a general campaign to be opened in the near future for the purpose of securing a better observance of Sunday, to be headed by the archbishops of Canterbury and York.
We hail this movement with joy, as it will open the way for the Sabbath truth to be brought more prominently before the people of this kingdom. We are laying plans to take advantage of the coming agitation, and, with the assistance of all our brethren and sisters throughout the field, we hope to give our Sabbath literature a wide circulation. Thus we shall do much to hasten the coming and kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
O. A. OLSEN.