Evangelistic Work in Greater New York by R. D. QUINN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 20, 1913

Evangelistic Work in Greater New York

By R. D. QUINN

The past season’s evangelistic efforts in Greater New York have been very encouraging, and quite a large number of persons have accepted the truth. Elders Lee Wheeler and L. T. Nicola, with a company of experienced Bible workers, held a joint meeting in connection with the Manhattan and Bronx English churches near 180th Street and Jerome Avenue. This was a very successful effort, and twenty converts were baptized and joined the church. The interest is still good, and is being followed up in a fine hall near by. Others have begun the observance of the Sabbath, and the brethren are hopeful of another good baptism before the work is completed in that section of the city.

WORKERS IN THE GREATER NEW YORK CONFERENCE

Elder A. V. Cotton and Brother R. J. Bryant, with an excellent corps of workers, conducted a successful tent effort in one of the most beautiful sections of Brooklyn. Thirteen have accepted the truths presented and been baptized, and the workers still have a large number of interested persons on their visiting list.

Elders B. E. Miller and D. N. Wall conducted separate German tent efforts in Brooklyn and New York during the summer and fall. These were both very successful. Elder Miller has baptized thirty-four converts as a result of his year’s work, and has followed up the summer’s interest in a hall this winter. Elder Wall has baptized seventeen. It will be remembered that Elder Wall did not reach this field until last spring, but his work shows excellent results for the time he has been here.

Elder N. P. Neilsen held a tent-meeting for the Danish-Norwegian people, and quite a number were baptized and joined the church at the close of his summer’s work. This tent effort was held on the ground recently purchased for the Danish-Norwegian mission building, which is now under construction and will be finished in about six weeks. There will soon be a very commodious meeting-place for this department of our work, thanks to the brethren in the West and in all other places who have given liberally to this worthy enterprise.

A tent effort was conducted in South Brooklyn by Elders E. Rosenwold and A. Boettcher and Brother R. Immomen, our Finnish laborer. These meetings were conducted in the Swedish language, and every other night were translated into the Finnish. Thus efforts were held for these two nationalities in one tent, and as a result some excellent persons accepted the truth. One promising young Finn who united with us has gone to the Seminary in Washington to prepare himself for the work.

Elder J. K. Humphrey and Brethren C. H. Wilkinson and Samuel Laviscount, with a corps of Bible workers, conducted a tent effort in Brooklyn for the colored people, resulting in thirteen being baptized.

Brother F. M. Dana has had charge of the Italian department during the past year. He and Brother C. Scordo, our Italian laborer, have conducted hall efforts in the interests of this work, and quite a number have been baptized.

The conference has greatly appreciated during the past year the help of Elder J. H. Schilling, who has taken up his residence in Brooklyn. While Elder Schilling has general charge of the foreign

work in the East, he has still been able to give considerable attention to the German work in this city, and also to the Hungarian department.

We are glad to report a growing and developing work among the Hungarian people for whom Brother John Sivak, our Hungarian laborer, has been working. Twenty-one were baptized into the Hungarian church last year.

As a result of our combined evangelistic work during the past year, one hundred fifty converts have been baptized and joined the church. The prospects for the work in Greater New York were never brighter. The interest at our public meetings this fall and winter has been excellent, and every indication points to the fact that in a special way God’s Spirit is impressing the people with the importance of the truth. Our workers and church-members are all united in perfect love and harmony, and for the speedy finishing of the work in this great city and in all other places.

The spirituality of the New York churches is expressed in their liberal gifts to foreign missions during the year that has just passed. The General Conference reports having received from this conference $10,140, or an amount equal to almost twenty cents a week a member. When we consider that our congregations have few church buildings of their own, and are thus compelled to pay heavy hall rents and other extra expenses incurred in a city like New York, we can not but feel that God’s blessing has been very manifest upon his people and his work.

R. D. QUINN.