Ontario by A. O. Burrill

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 22, 1906

Ontario

By A. O. Burrill

BOUCK'S HILL.—This place is near the St. Lawrence River, about fifty miles south of Ottawa. About fifteen years ago our aged Elder Wilcox came here from New York and delivered a few sermons, and two women began to observe the Sabbath. After a time their husbands joined them, and later still, some of their children, in one family all the children. Now there are ten adults keeping the Sabbath, and eleven grandchildren, most of whom are nearly old enough to decide for themselves. I found them believing the Bible and the spirit of prophecy. They were reading the REVIEW AND HERALD, the Signs, and the Messenger. Nearly all were paying tithe. One who had given up the Sabbath has returned to its observance. Someway I was impressed that the printed page had done much for them. I have for many years observed that those who read the REVIEW are the bone and sinew of this message. The Signs, for they were

taking a club, was doing some good work.

I had an attack of la grippe while there, but managed to speak to them twelve times in ten days. A partial organization was effected, and I promised to return to them June 7-11 to administer baptism and ordain church officers. They had been out with the petitions, gathering signatures and distributing tracts. They gave an order for ten dollars’ worth of tracts, also for a set of the bound “Testimonies” and several small ones, and for “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” “Desire of Ages,” “Empires of Prophecy,” “Ecclesiastical Empire,” “National Sunday Law,” and several other books. This is the largest order that I have taken at any one place this winter. I also took six subscriptions for the Watchman and two for the Messenger. This people believe in circulating reading-matter. They have some neighbors who are interested, and I expect they will soon begin to obey the Lord. We were much pleased to find so many who love this message. This company are three hundred miles from Toronto, in the eastern part of Ontario. There are but three small churches in this territory, in which are many thousands of people who do not know about this message. We need to pray that the Lord will send forth laborers into this great territory to scatter the seeds of truth.

Sister Spear reports one new Sabbath-keeper at Brampton, and Sister Boyce two new ones at Petrolia. The medical workers have been hard at work during January, as their reports show. During January the school debt was decreased one hundred dollars. The work goes slow, but we thank the Lord that it is moving.

A. O. BURRILL.