Ten Days in Memphis, Tenn.
By Stephen N. Haskell
A few years ago we planned to have a city mission training-school in Memphis, Tenn., but an unexpected call to California prevented our working there at that time. About two months ago we visited Memphis again, and were pleased to see the strong church which has been gathered out in that city through the efforts of Elder J. S. Washburn and others. During our visit, arrangements were made to hold a ten days' Bible institute with the church, June 16-26. Friday morning, June 16, we found a company of our brethren and sisters gathered in the tent on Mississippi Street, ready for the nine o'clock Bible study. The attendance from the first was excellent, notwithstanding the fact that the tent was some distance from most of their homes. I occupied the hour from nine to ten each morning; Elder W. R. Burrow, the president of the conference, occupied the second hour, giving an interesting and profitable line of study; Mrs. Haskell occupied the hour from eleven to twelve; and Elder J. S. Washburn spoke each evening. The weather was warm, but the people gathered early and remained to the close each day, thus showing their desire to become more thoroughly acquainted with God's Word. The Southern Publishing Association kindly furnished literature at a reduced rate where quantities were purchased by our brethren to sell to their neighbors and friends. Elder Burrow had a quantity of literature on hand; and as there was a call for it, we offered for sale at the close of the first meeting bundles of “His Glorious Appearing” worth two dollars for one dollar, and in a few minutes all were sold, and more were called for. This was repeated with other books until the stock on hand was exhausted, and more literature was ordered. The books were not only purchased, but many were sold in the city before the close of the institute. It is nearly thirty years since the spirit of prophecy said that publications containing the truth should be scattered like the leaves of autumn. We have only a short time in which to sow the seed; soon it will be forever too late to labor for souls. “Heavenly angels have long been waiting for human agents—the members of the church—to cooperate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you. So vast is the field, so comprehensive the design, that every sanctified heart will be pressed into service as an instrument of divine power.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pages 46, 47. Thousands of our lay members are anxious to work, but they do not know how to begin; they are waiting for some one to help them to get started. The members of our churches form a vast army; and when they are set to work, the harvest will soon be gathered. We have never found any church more willing to work than the brethren and sisters of Memphis. We also held some meetings with our colored brethren in Memphis during the institute. We found their hearts full of love for the truth. They are very much in need of a meeting-house that will properly represent the truth in that important center. There are over sixty thousand colored people in Memphis, and over ninety thousand in that county. Surely there is a great work to be done in Memphis for the colored people as well as for the white. It is one of the most enterprising cities of the South. The palatial residences of Memphis will compare favorably with those of any other city of America. We were glad to see the good company of workers stationed in Memphis, and trust that the force will not be lessened until the work is done for the thousands who are now ignorant of the truth. The message comes: “Seek to save the men of wealth, . . . Persuade men to lay up their treasures beside the throne of God.” The great palaces reared in all our large, enterprising cities must be entered by the truth. Who can do this work more effectively than the lay members of our city churches? “If every church-member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries to all peoples, nations, and tongues. . . . Those in the highways and byways of life are to hear the gospel message. Church-members are to do evangelistic work in the homes of their neighbors.” We leave Nashville this week for Portland, Maine. Two years ago the call was made to work the Eastern cities, where the first angel's message was preached with such power. Portland, where Sister White was first chosen for her life-work, was mentioned as a place to be worked. We were then carrying heavy responsibility in California, and were not free to respond to the call. When we laid down the heavy burdens carried for the past three years, my wife and I were both in need of rest, and have carried no heavy work for the past three months. Now we feel a burden to labor in Portland, and are going there, hoping that by the help of the Lord we may do something to proclaim the message in that city.