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The Australasian Field

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 9.

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The Australasian Field

By O. A. Olsen

We have just returned to Sydney from a tour to the west and the south. In company with Elder J. N. Loughborough, Brother J. M. Johanson, and Sister Lizzie Gregg, we attended the missionary convention for West Australia, Nov. 5-15, 1908. The meeting was located on our Heidelberg school farm, and the congregation was housed in the forty tents, including the meeting-tent.
On our arrival we were very happily surprised to find so large a gathering of our people. While West Australia is the youngest of our conferences, we here met the largest gathering for a missionary convention that we have had as yet, and we had an interesting and profitable time.
About two years ago one of the brethren in West Australia, feeling the need of a school in that colony, deeded to the conference his farm of one hundred acres (held to be worth one thousand pounds), for the consideration of one hundred pounds. The location is a favorable one for the school, being about thirty miles from Perth, in an easterly direction, and in a range of hills that has an elevation of from eight hundred to one thousand feet above sea-level. The climate is fine. The farm also has a good stream of water, rising from springs on the place, which itself is a great boon.
The school began in a small way, but has made steady progress. This last year it had an enrolment of twenty-four, but the outlook for the year now soon to begin is that the attendance will double that of last year.
The time of the convention was well improved. Seven exercises were conducted each day. The brethren and sisters present entered heartily into the studies, and much was accomplished. Instruction was given on the plans to be observed in the circulation of papers, tracts, and books, large and small; also in keeping accounts, and in proper methods of conducting the business.
Another line of instruction was that of church organization and the duties of church officers. Brother Loughborough gave each day a talk on the early experiences in the message and its growth and development to the present time. These talks were greatly appreciated by all present.
The convention has given a fresh impetus to the work in the conference, and already we hear good reports as the result. The growth of the school called for more room. Brother Martin, who is in charge, felt rather timid in calling for three hundred pounds for building purposes, but to this call the brethren present gave in cash, pledges, and work four hundred sixty-four pounds, and in loans without interest four hundred forty pounds more, so they have ample funds for their needs.
From West Australia we returned to attend the camp-meeting in Tasmania, Nov. 26 to Dec. 6, 1908. This meeting was located at Moonah, a suburb of Hobart, and right at the end of the tram-line, thus being convenient and easy of access. This is the first camp-meeting for some time in this conference, and we had only twenty-five tents, but those who could not be accommodated in tents found rooms in the houses near by. From the first, the weather was most favorable, and this was a great blessing. The laborers present were Elder W. A. Hennig, Elder J. N. Loughborough, Brother J. H. Paap from the Avondale school, Brethren J. M. Johanson and A. Lemke, and the writer.
The attendance of our own people was good. Tasmania is our smallest conference, and numbers only a few more than two hundred. On the two Sabbaths and First-days of the meetings, we had nearly that number present; during the week not quite so many. The instruction given was of a practical nature, and was well received. The attendance from the surrounding community at the evening discourses, and on First-day, was very good, seeming to indicate some interest.
Elder W. L. H. Baker and family, who had just arrived from Victoria, to take charge of the work of the conference, in the place of Elder L. V. Finster and wife, who have accepted the call to the Philippines, were well received, and he was unanimously elected conference president.
One cheering aspect of the work in Tasmania at present is the many calls for labor. It was evident that in order to fill all these at once, the services of all the ministers in Australia would be required. But the same is the case in other conferences.
Recently the Tasmanian Parliament has passed a Sunday observance measure, similar to the one in Canada. During the camp-meeting, Brother Hennig had some profitable interviews with a number of the members of parliament, and with the governor. The matter came up so suddenly that we were not able to give it all the attention its importance deserved. All these movements are sure indications that we are rapidly hastening to the end.
The two Sabbaths of the camp-meeting were occasions of rich blessings. On the last Sabbath all the unconverted in the tent at the time, and others who were not free in the Lord, responded to the call to seek God, and all experienced a great blessing. On First-day, at 6:30 A. M., we gathered at the water's edge near by, and witnessed the baptism of sixteen souls by Brother Baker. It was an inspiring occasion. Thus closed the best camp-meeting we have had in Tasmania. The work is onward. To the Lord be the praise.
O. A. OLSEN.