p. 16 | Progress in Egypt by W. H. Wakeham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 12, 1906

Progress in Egypt

By W. H. Wakeham

At my recent visit to Alexandria, I was much encouraged by the evidences of an onward movement in the second city of Egypt.

The little company of Sabbath-keepers there are growing in grace, and in unity of purpose, and others are becoming interested in the truth. Several besides the actual members attend the Sabbath services quite regularly. Some of these are already keeping the Sabbath, and are being instructed on other points of the message. Still others are apparently on the point of deciding for the truth.

Several Jews are interested attendants at our Sabbath services. One of these has recently had a remarkable conversion. Born a Jew, he had lost faith in the religion, was a hard drinker, and an inveterate smoker, besides having many other bad habits. But when the truths of the third angel's message reached his heart, he found a power never before experienced by him. He has fully accepted Christ and all for which he stands in this last message of mercy, and I recently had the pleasure of baptizing him. He is rejoicing in the truth, and is zealously teaching it to his Jewish friends.

His wife, though not yet converted, has become very friendly toward our people, because, she says, we have saved her husband. She thinks, and rightly too, that a faith that can work such a revolution in a man's character is worth looking into. This young man, whose name is Moses, reads and speaks Spanish, Turkish, and French, and also reads Hebrew. We hope he may become a real missionary among his people.

The interest among the Jews here reminds me of the words of Sister White at the last General Conference, that a great work would yet be done among the Jews.

While at Alexandria, I met a converted Jew who has been working for the Jews in Smyrna under the auspices of the English Church Missionary Society. I asked him what he found to be the greatest obstacles to the Jews becoming Christians. He replied, without a moment's hesitation, “The Sabbath, eating pork, and circumcision.” Of course I was glad to explain to him that the first two of these difficulties were not encountered by our missionaries, and that the grand truth of “justification by faith” easily swept away the third.

The work in this city has a more encouraging outlook than at any previous time since I came to Egypt. The accompanying picture shows the members of the Sabbath-school, and was taken by the superintendent of the school, Brother Mandalian, who sits at the left of the picture. On the right may be seen, in part, the very serviceable little organ donated to the Egyptian Mission by the Sabbath-school at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. For the present it is being used here, and adds much to the interest of the meetings. We ask all to remember the work in the “land of Ham.”

W. H. WAKEHAM.