The Philippine Islands by Elbridge M. Adams

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 11, 1913

The Philippine Islands

By Elbridge M. Adams

ELBRIDGE M. ADAMS

No doubt the workers in many lands are filled with deep gratitude, first to the Lord, then to the brethren at home, for the new laborers being sent into the great harvest-field. With those in other benighted lands, we share the common feeling that these workers will fill urgent and long-felt needs. Among these 8,000,000 people we have only barely made a beginning. And when our few workers are placed, it will be like a drop in the ocean, for there is so much to do. But we labor on, looking to the Lord of the harvest to fulfil his promise to “finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness.”

In connection with the work, there is one very interesting experience in which I know you will rejoice with me. After the General Conference I received a letter from a young man in Baguio,—a resort on the island of Luzon,—kindly offering us the use of the General Conference Bulletin. It was quite a surprise to us, for we did not know that there was any one in the islands taking the Bulletin besides ourselves. He also said: “I am not yet a member of the church, but am trying to live up to the light, hoping soon to join the Adventists and dedicate myself to the work. I came to the Philippines a year ago as a teacher in the Baguio school for American boys.” In answer to this letter I expressed my wish that he might indeed have his full desire realized soon. And this opened the way for a little correspondence. He began his next letter thus: “Your very kind letter came to me several days ago. I realize fully what you say in your letter, and I feel that the only way I shall find peace and rest is by going out and serving him.”

It was not long till he came to Manila to spend his vacation working at the Bureau of Science. But before he came, he asked me about the manner of keeping the Sabbath, saying that they had a half-day session in their school Sabbath morning. His work in the bureau required him to work on the Sabbath one-half day, and he attended our meetings on Sabbath afternoons. I began giving him studies, and when we had studied the seal of God and the mark of the beast, he began to see that he must give up all his Sabbath work. Of course he was greatly perplexed. He was here with good salary, reducing his school debt, which was far from being paid. It seemed certain that to keep the Sabbath meant to lose his position in the school, but he was hoping that there might be some way opened in the Bureau of Science whereby he could keep the Sabbath. One day the tempting offer stood before him,—$1,200 a year, but one-half day's work on the Sabbath. The devil reasoned with him that he could in a few months pay all his debts, and then follow his convictions. If he turned away from this he had nothing else in view, except to take the teachers' examination, looking to a position in the government schools. God helped him to turn away from the temporal to the eternal riches, and refuse the position offered, because he could not do the work and keep the Sabbath. When he went to see about the examinations for the taking of which he had made application, he found that part of the examinations came on the Sabbath, and no arrangements could be made for him unless he could take the test on the Sabbath. But again, by the help of the Lord, he stood firm, though in debt in a strange land.

This young man is a graduate of the University of Maine. He is coming every day to study the Bible. His parents are not Seventh-day Adventists, but some of his relatives are. He has never made a thorough study of our doctrines, but he has had the conviction for some time that the Sabbath should be kept. He seems to accept all truths that are presented to him, and I hope that soon there will be a place for him in the work laid upon God's people. Pray for him that he may not stumble, but walk with a steady step along the pathway to the New Jerusalem.