p. 17 | San Francisco Ship Mission Work by Chas. W. Peter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 18, 1907

San Francisco Ship Mission Work

By Chas. W. Peter

The land-locked harbor of San Francisco is one of the best in the world, for the deepest seagoing vessels can enter the Golden Gate with safety. Since April 18, 1906, the shipping to and from this port has very perceptibly increased.

While ships of all maritime nations enter here, the colors of Great Britain predominate. San Francisco is decidedly a cosmopolitan city; and to do a successful work, literature in different languages must be carried daily. Work among the ships has been done at this port for over twenty years. On an English vessel, the mate asked me how long the Signs had been published. “Over twenty years,” I replied. He said, “I have read it for thirty years.” Another man stated to me, “I have read your literature from your racks for twenty years.” Thus the silent witnesses have borne their message to those who sail the sea.

Follow the ship missionary one day. He has previously prepared rolls of reading-matter, stamped with the Society’s stamp. Each contains ten copies of the Signs of different dates, five of the Review, five of the Instructor, two or three of the Life Boat, one or more of Save the Boys, and health journals, besides tracts on twenty or more different subjects, including temperance.

On going aboard I find the captain in the ship’s cabin. I state my mission by presenting the reading-matter, and leave one roll on each ship. I make an effort to sell a book or papers to captain, mates, and sailors. I present Bible subjects when I can. Yesterday I visited twenty vessels, and sold two copies of “Coming King,” twelve copies of the Signs, Liberty, and Watchman, and placed in reading-racks eighty-five copies of the Signs, and left on sailing vessels fourteen rolls of literature. A great number of the men I talked to that day were infidels, the largest number I had ever met in one day.

Transport sailing day, from five hundred to fifteen hundred officers and men sail to the Philippine Islands. I place papers and tracts in each of the officer’s state-rooms, and hand them out to soldiers. Thus several hundred papers and tracts are distributed on each sailing day.

Allow me to suggest some of the ways you can assist in the work of giving God’s last message to these people. I am placing new reading-racks on important steamers, besides the many already installed. These have to be supplied with good up-to-date reading-matter. Thousands of tracts and papers are wanted. Send in your clean copies of literature in all languages, that you do not use. Churches should make up boxes, and send by prepaid freight. Thousands of new tracts are wanted to warn the hundreds of thousands of people coming and going. To pay for packages of these tracts, send money to the California Tract Society, stating that it is for tracts and for clubs of papers for San Francisco ship mission.

Church-schools and missionary societies can make up packages of a few selected tracts and enclose the name of the sender, requesting correspondence. These will be handed to young men sailing to the Philippines in United States service. Some mother’s son, many miles from home, will appreciate the fact that some one cares for his soul. Add your prayers to this seed sown, and you will see souls saved in the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour.

Dear reader, please remember the calamities soon to befall these cities. “Cast thy bread” now “upon the waters,” for soon the summer will be past, and the harvest will be ended.

CHAS. W. PETER. *S. D. A. Church, Verdi St., Alameda, Cal.*