A Recent Trip Through New England and Eastern Pennsylvania
By R. A. Underwood
OUR brethren will be interested in a few things which came under my observation on my recent trip to New England and eastern Pennsylvania. I had the pleasure of spending a few days in the neighborhood of Boston. The work in that city is advancing under the faithful labors of Elder K. C. Russell. While stopping at the Melrose Sanitarium, I had the privilege of speaking twice to the patients and helpers in that institution. I was greatly pleased with all I saw at Melrose in connection with the sanitarium. Truly the location is an ideal one for a sanitarium, and from every indication it seems clear that the hand of the Lord was in the moving of the sanitarium to this place from South Lancaster. I was much pleased with the spirit which seemed to pervade the home. Dr. Nicola and his associates were of good courage, and very hopeful for the future of the sanitarium. While at the sanitarium, in the reading-room where the patients are accustomed to assemble, I noticed a bookcase in which the books were conspicuous by their absence. I would suggest that some of our good brethren and sisters in the New England Conference take an interest in the institution, and aid in placing the best class of reading-matter before the patients. The following books are needed: “Bible Readings,” “Desire of Ages,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” “Great Controversy,” “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Marvel of Nations,” “Gospel in Creation,” “Eden to Eden,” “Steps to Christ,” “Best Stories,” “Life of Joseph Bates,” “Sunbeams of Health and Temperance,” “Man, the Masterpiece,” “Ladies’ Guide,” “Facts for the Times,” “The Stomach,” “Story of Pitcairn,” “Story of Redemption,” “Heralds of the Morning,” “Here and Hereafter,” “Mount of Blessing,” etc. Any one feeling an interest in this work would do well to furnish these books, all or in part. Some of our brethren may have these books in their homes, doing no good, which they could give for this purpose. Others could invest ten, fifteen, or twenty-five dollars, more or less, in furnishing these books to this institution. While attending the annual meeting of the stockholders of the South Lancaster Academy, it was my pleasure to meet with the students in the academy. A much older class of students is in attendance than formerly. The academy is prosperous, and is doing excellent work. The business meetings of the corporation and all the meetings of the trustees, were very profitable, and of such a character as will give stability and strength to the institution. On my return to Pennsylvania I stopped over Sabbath and Sunday in Philadelphia. I placed an order for a 40 x 60 foot tent with a manufacturer there, to be sent to Elder A. F. Ballenger in Wales. This conference donates this tent for that field. The work in Philadelphia is growing. Recently a second church was organized, with a membership of about sixty-five. A few hours’ stop at the Philadelphia Sanitarium showed that that institution, though less than a year old, has been greatly blessed. The sanitarium is crowded; it is reaching a wealthy and influential class of people, who are becoming enthusiastic supporters of the principles for which the institution stands. I was surprised to learn that, during the eleven months in which it has been operated, the institution has already done about twenty-five hundred dollars’ worth of charity work. This has been mostly for our own people. Prominent physicians in the city are becoming interested in the work of the institution, and are co-operating with it. God has blessed in all the treatment given, but signally so in the operations which it has been found necessary to perform for the restoration of health to those who have been there to receive assistance. To any of those who may read these lines, and who may feel an interest in helping this institution, not only to shed light upon the special features of its work, but upon all the points of truth which we hold dear as a people, I would suggest that we furnish it with the same list of books which has been suggested for the Melrose Sanitarium. In addition to this, they are in great need of a good piano. Some of the wealthiest and best citizens of Philadelphia and other cities come to this institution. The friends of the cause have provided the means with which to start the institution and keep it running up to the present time, but as it has not had a dollar at its command, nor any donations bestowed upon it aside from that already mentioned, it has been unable to purchase a musical instrument for its parlor. It may be that some one having a good piano which is but little used, would be glad to see the instrument placed where it would be doing more good than at the present time. Is there not some one who would be glad to donate a good piano for this institution? Owing to the large amount of medical and surgical work it has been called upon to do in benevolent lines, the institution is in great need of bandages, and partially worn sheets, woolen blankets, etc. Any one having any of these articles, or any of the books mentioned above, in good condition, should correspond immediately with Dr. A. J. Read, 1809 Wallace St., Philadelphia, Pa. While in Philadelphia, I was informed that a large congregation of colored people in the city had recently accepted the Sabbath truth, and believed a number of the truths held by our people. In company with Elder Fitzgerald and one or two other workers, I attended the place of their meeting, which is in the Old Quaker Hall, a little off of18Broad Street, in the southern part of the city. Upon entering the hall, I was surprised to see about four hundred colored people eagerly engaged in the study of the Bible. In conversation with their leading minister, I learned that there are over a thousand Sabbath-keepers among the colored people in Philadelphia, that they believe in the soon coming of Christ, in the unconscious state of the dead, in spiritual gifts, and other truths which Seventh-day Adventists hold. They believe in trine immersion, for the Lord’s supper use bread and water, and in a few other things are somewhat different from our people. Elder Fitzgerald and myself had the privilege of speaking to this congregation on this occasion for a few minutes. I was impressed with the earnestness with which they were all studying the Scriptures, committing the Bible to memory. The minister who had been the one to lead this people into the Sabbath truth, said that less than six years ago he was employed in the West on the Santa Fé Railroad, and knew nothing of the truth he is now proclaiming; also that he has raised up several other congregations among the colored people, and all are now keeping the Sabbath. The colored people have a happy faculty of expressing their ideas of the truth in song. I was pleased to hear them express in song the truths proving that the seventh day is the Sabbath, giving the chapter and verse, and quoting in song the Scripture. In the same song they would answer most of the objections urged against the Sabbath truth by Protestants, both white and black. Whenever one of their ministers or Elder Fitzgerald and I would give an expression or quote a Scripture which touched upon some point of truth which we held in common, many voices would ring out in the congregation, “That is what it says.” However much we may be led to criticise some of the points of their faith, we can but believe that they have been led a long step forward in the knowledge of the truth for these last days. While stopping at Harrisburg, from Elder Smith I learned that a bill had been introduced in the legislature of Pennsylvania, to amend the old Sunday blue laws of 1794 now upon the statute-books. This step had called out the united effort of Protestant and Catholic clergy in Harrisburg and other cities, in rallying to the defense of this law, which, in most parts, has become obsolete so far as its enforcement is concerned. In the meeting which was thrown open in the Senate chamber, the clergy used the old arguments which are generally used in supporting Sunday legislation. Such foolish arguments as that the wheels on the cars used on the railroads on Sunday, become brittle and worn out, and that men can not continue their work seven days in the week without impairing their health, were among the best they had in stock. Business men of Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and other places presented the unreasonableness of the law, and its partial enforcement at the present time, generally upon the poor and conscientious Sabbath-keeper. Dr. Lewis, prominent among the Seventh-day Baptists, was present, and gave a telling speech in opposition to the blue laws as a whole, while presenting in a clear manner the claims of the Sabbath of the Lord. Elder W. H. Smith succeeded in placing in the hands of every member of the legislature, literature bearing on the question, and it had a telling effect. It was clear that the Sentinel, which has been placed in the hands of each member during the present session, has also been having its effect. Several speakers lifted the Sentinel from their desks, commending it as an organ standing in defense of principles of liberty, recommending that it be read by every citizen. When arguments were presented showing that, upon Biblical grounds, the first day of the week has no foundation as the Sabbath, and that the arguments of the clergymen for Sunday enforcement, based upon the fourth commandment, had failed to apply to the first day of the week (since the Sabbath law refers to the seventh, not the first day of the week), there was a general clapping of hands by nearly all the members of the House, showing the effect which has been produced by the reading of the Sentinel and other literature placed in their hands. It is just such occasions as these which the Lord uses to bring the truth for this time before the leading men of the nation. We are in need of funds to continue sending the Sentinel and other reading-matter to the members of the legislature, and we would be glad to have our brethren respond, those who feel a desire to see the truth brought before these men, by sending donations to assist in this work. All such donations should be sent to the Pennsylvania Tract Society, Box 614, Williamsport, Pa., stating the purpose for which they are sent. In different parts of the State I find that our brethren are rallying to the circulation of the small tracts. I trust this campaign will be vigorously carried forward. Let all our brethren, wherever they are, endeavor quickly to sell their entire quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and not slacken their efforts until the full number of copies has been sold. Those who have not sold their quota should arise with purpose of heart, declaring, “This one thing I do,” until it is finished.
R. A. UNDERWOOD.