Observations and Reflections in Travel by G. B. T.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1916

Observations and Reflections in Travel

By G. B. T.

It is impossible, in traveling from place to place, not to be impressed with the marvelous progress, inventive genius, and material resources of this age. Man, with all his limitations caused by sin, has been able to accomplish much. This is seen perhaps as fully in the means of locomotion as in any other way. When we stop to compare the ease, comfort, and speed with which a transcontinental trip is made at the present time with the difficulties, discomforts, and tediousness of the days of prairie schooners, stage coaches, and caravans of pack mules, the contrast appears very great. A few hours now suffice to cover what then required days. In the early days of the message, brethren like Elder J. N. Loughborough and others, in their efforts to establish the work on the Pacific Coast, must either use these means of travel, or take the longer route across the Isthmus of Panama.

Men are indeed running to and fro, by both land and sea. All these means of rapid traveling are to be used in quickly carrying the message over all the world, where doors standing ajar are inviting the herald of the gospel to enter.

Leaving Washington on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for the West, as I had done many times before, I was impressed anew with the work which yet lies before us in the North American Division Conference, being, as it is, the base of supplies for strengthening the work in the regions beyond. Villages, towns, and cities are found all the way along the route. The spiritual need of Pittsburgh appeals to one, as well as of the populous centers in Ohio and Indiana. Then this is but one line of travel. Think of the teeming millions along all the other lines of travel. The message must be more fully preached in all these places.

The next morning finds one in Chicago, the second city in the United States, and fourth, I believe, in the world in population. Here is a city entered by about twenty-four important lines of railroad, having universities and numerous other educational institutions, parks, boulevards, libraries, sky-scraper office buildings, and everything that goes with a great city of more than 2,000,000 inhabitants.

Sin is here, to be sure, but no more so than in other large cities. There are honest souls here also. The message has made a good beginning in this city, and churches have been established. We have consecrated, sacrificing workers here, who are laboring to the limit of their endurance to push forward the work. But when one walks the crowded thoroughfares and thinks of the number of tongues, and of the different nationalities represented, and of the shortness of time, the need of a great spiritual awakening and Pentecostal power, grips the heart.

Leaving Chicago over the Santa Fé Railroad, one passes through such centers of population as Joliet, Streator, and Galesburg, and the next morning finds himself in Kansas City, where are gathered a half-million persons. Here is found one of the greatest centers of travel in the Middle West. Sixteen trunk lines of railroad, besides a number of electric lines, center here. A new railway station costing about $6,000,000 has been recently opened. Here, too, our work has been established, and faithful workers are doing their utmost to win other souls. But again a sense of the needs of these vast centers of population weighs heavily upon the heart, and as we reflect on the overshadowing doom awaiting these places, we desire to be alone with God and pray for a real soul-winning burden to rest upon his remnant people.

Leaving Kansas City, the State of Kansas is traversed. On riding through

this State, where the blessings of prohibition have been enjoyed for years, one is greatly impressed with the fact that here are thousands of children and young people who have never seen a saloon.

But on and on we pass, through hundreds of miles of prosperous, populous country waiting for God's message to be given more fully. How much longer must God's work be delayed by indifference and lack of whole-hearted consecration? Passing on into New Mexico and Arizona, we see remnants of the aboriginal tribes of America into whose pagan mind the gospel seems to shine but dimly. We are impressed with the need of doing something to enlighten these people, for some of every tribe and tongue will stand on Mount Zion.

From here we pass into California. Nowhere in the world is found a more progressive class of people than in this State, so favored with a delightful climate and abundant material resources. Here are found the famous big trees. If there is such a thing as “tongues in trees,” behold it here. Although seventy years make up the allotted span of human life, these trees are said to have been in existence when Pharaoh's host perished in the Red Sea, or even before the building of the pyramids in Egypt was conceived. Some of these fallen monarchs of the forest, said to have lain for four centuries, are found to be sound. But while so vast in their proportions, the seeds from which they sprang were thin and slight, well illustrating the potency of life.

Here also our work has been firmly established, and is making encouraging growth each year. There are about ten thousand Sabbath keepers in the State, and some of our strongest institutions. I am now at Hanford, attending the Central California Conference camp meeting. The camp is large and well arranged, and a very earnest spirit prevails. The outlook is excellent for a good meeting.

This is only one of six conferences which have been organized in this great commonwealth to foster and develop the work in its borders. G. B. T.