Western Washington by W. F. Martin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1904

Western Washington.

By W. F. Martin

NOVEMBER 27-29 I attended the general meeting at Vancouver, Wash. Elder E. L. Stewart was taken sick at the first of the meeting, but recovered sufficiently to take an active part the last day of the meeting. Elder Decker and Dr. Holden came from the Portland Sanitarium, and rendered valuable help. Several of the brethren and sisters from neighboring churches attended this meeting. On Friday, after a missionary study, a large number of those present took copies of the special Signs, and sold them in the city. The Lord blessed in this work, and most of those who went out met with excellent success. This brought a spirit of good cheer into the meeting. All went home feeling that it had been profitable to meet together.

After the close of this meeting, I spent three days at Sara, where we have a small company of believers. The Lord blessed in the few meetings held. Elder A. J. Stover, one of the pioneers in the message, lives at Sara, and is a great help to the company there.

Sabbath, December 5, I spent at Tacoma, speaking in the church to a good-sized audience. I have met Dr. T. J. Allen, whom I had not seen for ten years. Dr. Allen's parents and my parents accepted the truth together in Arkansas, during the first tent-meeting ever held in that State. We all passed through the persecutions there from 1885-89. The doctor is now conducting treatment rooms in Tacoma.

I spent two days at Ilwaco, below Astoria. There is a church building here, but most of our people have moved away. The first three days of the week of prayer I spent at Vancouver. Two meetings each day were held. All seemed to enter into the spirit of the meeting, and the Lord added his blessing. From Vancouver I went to Goldendale. A few families of our people live at this place, and are engaged in running a sawmill. A successful church school is in progress. We also held two meetings each day, and I am sure they were the means of helping us to draw nearer the Lord.

I am now at Kelso, assisting the brethren to erect a church building. We have a good building, twenty-four by thirty-six feet, nearing completion. Kelso is a good town of over eight hundred inhabitants, and there seems to be considerable work going on. I think there is a good opening for a first-class carpenter. My courage and hope are good.

W. F. MARTIN.