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The Kimberley Baths

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 30.

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The Kimberley Baths

By J. V. Willson

J. V. WILLSON
[This report, the first received from Brother Willson in a long time, was just in hand at the Mission Board office when the sad news of his death came by cable.]
WE are just past the great heat of the season. This has been the hottest season known in Kimberley for many years. It has been difficult to keep the flower garden from entirely burning up by the hot sun, which is nearly straight overhead here in midsummer, or during December and January.
When the great war in Europe first began, our patronage decreased, but after the first shock was over, it came up again, but has not fully recovered the usual volume. Our treatment-rooms have had an influence for good far and near. Many have been relieved of pain and sickness by the treatments, and that always has a good effect for the truth. We keep the reading rack in our reception-room well supplied with our publications, and we find it has to be refilled frequently. Since the war the people are more ready to read our publications, and more interested to converse in regard to the truth. Many copies of “The World’s Crisis” are being sold in town by the members of the local church. It meets with a ready sale. There is a widespread interest to know the meaning of events now taking place.
It is seventeen years this month since we arrived in Kimberley and began work in the treatment-rooms. Since then a debt of $6,000 has been liquidated. Additions to the building have been made, at a cost of more than $10,000, and additional real estate purchased at a value of $3,200. The Lord has blessed the work in many remarkable ways. Many times we have been in difficult places, but in answer to prayer the Lord has opened the way for the work to go forward.
This church is the first Seventh-day Adventist church established in Africa, and some of the charter members are still connected with it. It was from this place that the money was sent to bring the first laborers to Africa. May the light of the third angel’s message shine brightly from this center till the Lord comes to gather his people home.
April 1, 1916.