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In the Middle West

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 21.

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In the Middle West

By S. H. Lane

DURING the past few weeks I have been in the field; have attended the Lake Union Conference at Chicago, the Northwestern at Des Moines, Iowa, and the Southwestern at Topeka, Kan. It is not my design to give a report of these conferences, but to notice some features of special interest in all. At each of these meetings, missionary work was made prominent, and the introduction of the subject imparted enthusiasm to all departments of the work.
On Sabbath, March 29, the Lake Union Conference at Chicago was addressed by Brother Booth, who has labored for ten years in Nyassaland, Central Africa. He was formerly a farmer and dairyman in Australia, but was so deeply impressed that he should labor for the benighted heathen tribes of Central Africa, that he left all, and with his family moved to Africa. Through the blessing of God his work was a success, and many natives have not only been civilized, but Christianized. Missionary stations have been established, and the natives educated to labor in industrial and spiritual lines, and they are pressing the work into the regions beyond. Two hundred of these natives are now keeping the Sabbath. Brother Booth has fully accepted the truths taught by our people, and desires the Mission Board to send to Africa suitable help to carry on evangelistic and medical missionary work in that field. For that purpose the Lake Union, the Northwestern Union, and Southwestern Union Conferences have, during the conferences just closed, raised in cash and pledges over six thousand dollars.
The last Sabbath meeting at Des Moines, Iowa, was especially good. The Young People's Society in the city is accomplishing a wonderful amount of good, and many of the young people are becoming real missionaries. They have established Sabbath schools in three different parts of the city—two among the poorer classes, and one among the more wealthy. They rent a room for the school in the suburbs, and then visit surrounding families, and by interesting the parents, the children are readily secured for the Sabbath school. They aid the poor, visit the sick, and cheer the disconsolate. The Sabbath schools are held in the afternoon, and the same lessons are taught that the young teachers have learned and recited as pupils in the forenoon in the church Sabbath school. Such a course trains these young teachers to study their own lessons well, and their effort to impart knowledge to the children in the outskirts of the city stamps the truth on their own hearts, and influences their own lives, as well as the children's, for good.
Sabbath, April 12, at the opening of the Des Moines church Sabbath school, about thirty of these children were in attendance, and it was wonderful to note how well they sang, repeated texts of Scripture, and recited their lesson. The sight was not only a pleasant one, but really soul-cheering and inspiring. The teachers, who only a few years ago were active, wide-awake, and often mischievous children, are carrying on this good work in a commendable manner. A former teacher of these young persons was present, and was deeply interested and much gratified with their missionary zeal. This missionary work is seemingly their salvation. Our books and papers are used in these Sabbath schools.
On Sunday night, April 13, the writer had the privilege of speaking in one of the Sabbath-school rooms to quite a number of the pupils and their parents.
Such a work might be carried on in scores of cities where we have churches if some one would, in the fear of the Lord, take hold of the work and establish schools.
April 15 and 16 I had the privilege of meeting with the students of Union College, at College View, Neb., in connection with many of the members of the College View church, and some from the Lincoln church. The students were addressed on missionary work by Elder Daniells. The sermon was well received, and a real missionary spirit was aroused, which will certainly bear fruit. An excellent spirit pervades the school, and a fine class of earnest young men and women are in attendance.
The Southwestern Union Conference held at Topeka, Kan., was a decided success. The Lord has been blessing in this conference. There has been an advance in all departments of the work. The meetings were held in the city Auditorium, which will seat four thousand people. The use of this building, heated, lighted, and cared for, was given us free of charge. At each evening meeting quite a goodly number attended from the city, and seemed interested.
Sunday, April 20, several of our ministers were invited to speak in the city churches. The meetings were well attended, and marked attention was shown. In the evening the writer spoke in the Auditorium to a large congregation, on the Signs of the Times. The secretary of the Railroad division of the Young Men's Christian Association was present, and requested me to speak at the general shops of the Santa Fé R. R. Company, in Topeka, at the noon meeting on Thursday, April 25. There was a large attendance, and the men were deeply interested as I called their attention to the manner in which the Lord is using the great and marvelous inventions of the last days to carry the truth to all nations.
At all the conferences and at College View the writer has introduced the subject of the Missionary Acre work, and ministers and people favor the enterprise, and are willing to donate the proceeds of farm and garden to the purchasing of the Battle Creek College property for the use of the medical college for the training of physicians and nurses to labor in our sanitariums and in cities and villages in all parts of the world. Those who cannot farm or garden are giving of their means. Sabbath and Sunday, April 26 and 27, I held meetings at Ottawa and Pomona, Kan., in the interest of this work. We enjoyed some excellent meetings. I have received in pledges and in money about three hundred dollars, besides acres of produce, the proceeds of poultry, etc. The good work is surely starting well.
Reader, are you planting and sowing for the Lord? If you have not done so, please send a pledge to P. T. Magan, Berrien Springs, Mich. I expect to visit all the churches and general meetings I can in various States this summer and autumn; but do not wait for a personal visit. Plan to aid this noble work. The Lord is certainly in it. Who will aid now? S. H. LANE.