Alberta, Canada by J. W. Boynton

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

Alberta, Canada

By J. W. Boynton

SEVERAL months have passed since my last report to the REVIEW; but they have been months of hard work, with many blessings to give us courage. I know that the brethren in the home fields are always glad to hear of our progress, so I will write a few lines this morning.

It is now nearly five years since, in response to the call of the General Conference, I moved my family to Alberta. At that time there were one licensed minister (German) and one organized church. About sixty souls in all the Northwest Territory (Alberta, Assiniboia, and Saskatchewan) were keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. During the last year the Canadian government has formed two provinces out of the territories just mentioned; this has enlarged the province of Alberta, and reduced the territory of this mission field, as formerly about two thirds of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan were included. But at present we have the province of Alberta alone. We now have three ordained ministers, one licentiate, one secretary, three nurses, one colporteur, and a field secretary, with two or three canvassers.

Our work has grown until we now have six churches, twelve Sabbath-schools, and about three hundred Sabbath-keepers in Alberta. The tithe for 1904 amounted to $1,250.30 and for 1905 to $2,129.99. The offerings for 1904, outside of Alberta, amounted to $147.34, and for 1905 to $504.77, and for our home work to $263.50. Book and periodical sales for 1904 amounted to $1,301.65, for 1905 to $2,090.53.

We have three church buildings, two large tents for meetings, and several small tents for family use. We have church-schools at Rush Lake and Harmattan, where the spiritual results have been good, but it has been quite difficult to raise the necessary means. We are in need of one or two good, devoted teachers, to open schools at other places. Our nurses are doing a good work at Edmonton, where they are conducting a small private sanitarium.

Each of the field workers reports that some souls have embraced the truth where he has been laboring. The twenty-third of February Elder Block assisted me in organizing a church of seventeen members at Leduc, and we hope to organize other churches soon.

I write thus in detail, as some of our people in the States and in eastern Canada are thinking of coming here, and wish to know more of the situation. We have a good country, a good climate, and vast possibilities, a good opportunity to get cheap homes, where we may live the truth before others.

There is still opportunity to get free lands by going back from the railroads; new lines are building, and others are being surveyed, so it will not be long until railroads will be near to all. Free land is being rapidly taken, and other lands sold, and it will not be long before it will be out of the reach of the poorer class. While I am not urging any one to come here, we shall be glad to welcome any of our people who will come and help us get the truth before the people; to all such we shall be glad to render any help we can by giving information or otherwise, as we may be able.

At the last session of the Northern Union Conference it was voted to organize the Alberta mission field into a conference. I am sure this will be a source of encouragement to the people here. Our laborers are just returning from the conference, filled with hope and

courage to go forward and carry the message of salvation to all parts of this great field. We ask the prayers of God's people in behalf of our efforts here.

J. W. BOYNTON.

Ponoka.