p. 1154 | A Wonderful Opening in South Africa by G. H. Clark

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 27, 1913

A Wonderful Opening in South Africa

By G. H. Clark

Sometimes we feel that the work is going slowly, and wonder how the Lord will ever get this last message before these millions of heathen people. Just now we are witnessing the wonder-working power of our God, and “it is marvelous in our eyes.” Praise his holy name!

The gold-mining district is about forty miles long, and Johannesburg, our largest city, is in the center. There are about 150 mines, employing 35,000 white men and 300,000 natives from “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” in Africa.

Recruiting agents are traveling everywhere, hiring natives to come and work in the mines. Often these natives come by train-loads, and return the same way. They receive about $15 a month, besides food and shelter. As many as 4,000 are sometimes kept in one compound, which consists of many large rooms surrounded by a high brick wall. All grades of men, socially, educationally, mentally, and spiritually, are to be found here. The preacher, the teacher, the chief’s son, and those who know not their right hand from their left are thrown together to dig the gold from the bowels of the earth.

Absolutely no one—not even the colporteurs of the British and Foreign Bible Society, who have worked just outside the gates for eight years—can enter these compounds; but, thanks be to God, he has miraculously opened the way, and five days of every week our workers are entering and selling to the natives books which contain the truths of the third angel’s message. The special reason for not allowing any one in the compounds is that whisky is smuggled in and works great trouble with the natives.

We have visited thirty-five compounds, and without a single exception have secured the privilege of selling our books. A few officials preferred to have us stand just outside the gates, but in every such case that place was the best spot to sell our books.

When asking for permission to enter the compounds, we had some wonderful experiences. One gentleman said, “Why do you wish to go inside?” I said, “Mr. Brown, I will show you.” I then said, “I have some nice books in that bag; should you like to buy one?” I opened the bag and took out an English “Steps to Christ,” and started showing the book. He said, “I see, I see. Wait a moment, I will write you a permission to enter the compound.”

I told another man we were engaged in missionary work. He asked me to explain the work more fully, which I did. I told him we were there solely to lift up Christ as the Saviour of the black man as well as of the white man. He took me by the hand and said, very touchingly, “I will help you all I can.”

Others were at first very different from these two. They were “opposed to teaching the natives,” had “plenty of

societies at work,” “don’t know who you are,” etc.; but, without one exception, every valley has been exalted, and every mountain and hill has been made low; the crooked has been made straight, and the rough places plain.

From the very first, the poor natives have hailed us with joy, believing and declaring that we are “God’s sent men.” They love our good literature, and hang upon our few words that we speak to them.

Our native literature consists of pamphlets and books which sell for from twelve cents to eighty-four cents, besides a few English books. But during the three months that we have been working, we have sold $400 worth of literature.

Steps are now being taken to translate our literature into more languages, also to prepare new books and pamphlets, so as to meet the needs and opportunities of the present situation.

As soon as possible, we hope to secure suitable workers, and then operate the compounds that have not yet been entered.

Now, what does all this mean? It means, first, that nothing is too hard for the Lord; second, that in many instances our books and our testimonies for the truth have gone to the officials (white men) in high positions, where they might not have gone by any other means; third, that more than a thousand books and pamphlets have already been placed in the different compounds where 90,000 men will be more or less affected, and that as others are constantly coming, there will ever be an opportunity to reach souls by this means; fourth, that there will ever be a continual distribution of books from this center. Every day natives are leaving for their homes and elsewhere, and they will surely take their books and show their friends these precious treasures of truth. Without doubt, in this way persons will be reached and won to God and heaven who will never see nor hear a regular missionary.

All of us who have had a part in this work are nearer the Lord than when we began, and join in saying, It is a wonderful opening in South Africa.

G. H. CLARK AND WORKERS.