Maritime Conference Good Cheer by Wm. Guthrie.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1907

Maritime Conference Good Cheer

By Wm. Guthrie.

WHILE this field is far to the north of many of its sisters, projecting far out into the cold waters of the North Atlantic, skirted on our farthest shores by the icy waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, we are still in the land of life and activity. While we are few in numbers, we have a great work to do, and are constantly trying to find out how best to plan for the speedy completion of the Saviour’s commission, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Many are the difficulties with which we must contend in winter in order to hasten the Master’s coming. Yet of this we do not complain so long as we can know that our work is blessed of the Lord.

For the last eight weeks we have been making a tour of the churches, in company with Elder W. H. Thurston, and the Lord has been with us all the way. We have seen souls yield to the Master, forsaking a life of sin to accept new life in Christ. In places where the enemy would shut us out, opposition only tended to open the hearts of the people to hear the truth. All over the field we find souls thirsting for the “water of life.” Who will go forth and, by precept and example, fill their longing souls with the bread of heaven? The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Who among those that can not labor in person will sustain with their means those whom God has chosen to do this work, that they may go forth quickly to the work lest a soul perish whom we might save?

With longing hearts we wait for the time when the young people who are now in training in Williamsdale Academy will be ready to go forth prepared to herald the message in their own land. With the blessing of the Lord they will do a noble work for the Master.

Brethren, you who have helped to establish this school, you will never know what good you have done until you reap your reward in the end of the harvest. We never could have started such an enterprise without your help, and we could not develop our young people without the school. We are now well on with the work of the buildings, but there are many other things to be done before our financial success will be assured. We must stock the farm with cattle so as to supply milk and butter; we must have horses for farm work; we need equipments for the school, including a small library; then the farm must be fenced this spring to keep our cattle from troubling our neighbors. All this takes money, and as we have but little, we greatly appreciate the help that we receive from others. A part of the $150,000 fund comes to this school. May the Lord open our hearts and purses so that this fund may soon be completed.

We are to have three tents in the field this year. However, this means but one tent for a whole province. We are expecting a church for each company for the summer’s effort. Pray for us that this may be so.

Winter is still here, but we have hopes that it will leave by the middle of May. Then we shall enjoy the spring days, and after that our two months of summer; then fall will follow, and winter will again close down upon us with her icy fingers, and hold us fast for another six months.

May the Lord bless us all that we may work while it is called to-day, lest the night come upon us when none can work.

WM. GUTHRIE.