The First Sabbath of the General Conference
By W. A. S.
THE evening of the Sabbath came upon the encampment with a sweet and solemn stillness. Over and over hearts have thanked God for the counsel to hold the conference in the open air. As Elder Daniells remarked at the opening of the Friday evening service, this camp amid the trees seems a holy and sacred place. Elder W. S. Hyatt, of South Africa, occupied the evening hour, taking as his text, “Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Ps. 68:31. It was a soul-stirring message that our brother brought to us. From the depth of heathen degradation, God is calling sons and daughters from Africa, and by his grace making them more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir. A wonderful change has come in Africa during the last few years. In Matabeleland, Basutoland, and Nyassaland young men are praying God to help them quickly to get ready to go with this message into the tribes beyond. Brother Hyatt told us of calls from various tribes in the south, where people who have been evangelized during the past half century of missions are begging that we shall not pass them by as we are sending workers into the interior. He told of two heathen young men who had heard of our first mission near Buluwayo, and started out to find a station where no one drank or smoked. These young men sought for days and days, disappointed in their search, but finally found the newer station near Gwefo, one hundred and fifty miles away. As soon as they found this was indeed one of the missions that they had heard about, they begged to be allowed to return to their own country and bring three other young men. Within four months these young men, fresh from their heathen homes, had learned to read the Bible and to use it, and now are daily praying God to help them soon to return with the message to their people. The believers in the South African Conferences have been so stirred with the call for this message among the colonial natives that they are starting missions now with only the limited resources they themselves are able to get together. Our hearts were filled with joy at this message that Africa sends us by Brother Hyatt. Sabbath morning dawned a perfect day of rest. Truly it seemed a bit of Eden peace on earth again. The fresh foliage sparkled with dew, and the birds sang amid the trees. The great tent was crowded with the Sabbath-school classes at the morning hour. Brother Shaw, of India, made a few remarks on the important place of the Sabbath-school in the missionary advance, and then the offering, amounting to fifty-three dollars, was taken. At eleven o’clock Sister E. G. White spoke with the old-time clearness and power from the words of Phil. 2:1-11. We are to be not on the negative, but on the affirmative side with God. The word to us is, “Advance! Forward! pressing together unto victory. Let your words be of a character to comfort and bless, and if you have not educated your voice to speak kindly and pleasantly, then begin to educate yourself at once.” Every home where Christ is named is to be cleansed from every semblance of anger, for the Lord is coming soon. “There is a heaven to win, and there is a hell to shun.” Earnest words were spoken regarding the pressing forward of the work in Washington. The sermon closed with comments on portions of Colossians 3, regarding what must be put off and what put on in this holy warfare, and in this perilous time. “God will help every one who takes hold to help himself.” “Determine, I will have heaven at any cost.” Again in this service the melting influence of the Spirit of God was present as the message was borne. At three o’clock, Elder E. W. Farnsworth spoke on “Our Message.” Rev. 14:6-11 was read, with the declaration that this is the scripture that has made us a people. This is the message that has made all there is of this movement. And it is this definite message, proclaiming the judgment hour and the warning against the worship of the beast and his image, which will finish the work. How the amens rolled under the great canvas as brethren, and sisters too, responded to the stirring battle call to push the message to the finish, throwing into it all that we have of means and of life, not at some future time, but just now. An hour’s intermission followed, and then the congregation came together to close the Sabbath by a praise and testimony meeting. It was a blessed day in camp, and many hearts were burdened with the prayer that the same blessings might fall upon the brethren and sisters in the churches. W. A. S.