SOUTH AFRICA | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 8, 1901

SOUTH AFRICA.

Basutoland, Kolo Mission.—We had our first Seventh-day Adventist baptismal service on the 17th of August, when two adult sisters were immersed. We had the greatest gathering we ever had since the work was started at the Kolo Mission. We were surprised at a message which came from our neighboring French mission to their converts, forbidding them to come to our service. Even young men and girls, some of whom we had instructed in the Scriptures, were forbidden to attend. Still a large number attended. Even those who were forbidden to come near us we saw climbing up behind the mission walls on the precipices facing the mission grounds toward the southwest.

After the solemn preaching about what real baptism is, and what it means, we went to the pool, which was about fifty yards from the place where we were gathered. The whole congregation followed, and stood round the pool while the baptism took place. This being just below the declivity of the hill, a great number of those who were forbidden drew near to witness the wonderful sight. It seems that the good Spirit is working upon the hearts of the people. The meeting was remarkably quiet, and the people were attentive.

Our little service building is nearly finished. Elder Freeman is buying grass for the thatching. We are glad to see a few donating grass toward this little building. Dear readers, this great and hard work in Basutoland needs your prayers. May the blessing of the Lord rest upon His vineyard, and also upon His servants. D. Kalaka.

East London and Cambridge.—Having occasion to stay a little while in East London, I visited our brethren, and was glad to be present at two Sabbath meetings. Brother Ernst had a service for the German brethren and sisters at his house; and after an early dinner we walked to Elder Tarr’s house, at Cambridge, and there met eight or nine adults and as many children. After a most interesting Bible reading, we had Sabbath-school, and the answers of the little ones showed a good understanding of the subject.

I also attended two Bible readings conducted by Sister Tarr, and great was the interest in them. One said, “I would not miss these meetings for anything.” Another said, “I am ashamed to find how little I know about the Bible.” But the one thing above all others that I have noticed was the real brotherly spirit there is among them. I have not felt so happy since I left America; it was as if we were brothers and sisters of one family.

In East London the people are hungering and thirsting for the full truth, and the laborers are so few. May God send more workers into His vineyard. Sister Rosa.

Cape Town.—In a recent report to our South African news-letter, the Fortnightly Visitor, one of our workers, Mrs. E. Stapleford, says: “I thought you would like to hear my first experience in selling Sentinels [copies of the South African Sentinel] in the bars and canteens of Cape Town. I started last Saturday night from Observatory with one hundred and four papers. At Woodstock two ladies entered the train. On seeing my papers, they asked if I was selling them. I told them I was, so they each bought one, and also another one to send up country. They had read our papers before, and knew what they were getting. It was a quarter past eight o’clock when I reached town and started for the hotels. I sold several in the first one I entered. The smoke was dreadful, but my courage was good. As I went into the next one, some gave me three-pence for the paper, although I told them it was a penny. In the next place I went, three friends were standing talking. I asked them to take a paper. They wanted to know what it was, and if I was a Baptist. I told them I believed in baptism, but did not belong to that church, but was a Seventh-day Adventist. They then asked several questions concerning the Sabbath, which I answered. One question was a very pointed one, and they were not the only ones who asked it: ‘Who gives you courage to come into a place like this?’ I said, ‘The Lord does.’ They answered, ‘We believe you.’ On being asked to take wine, I told them I was a teetotaler. Lemonade was offered, but was declined with thanks. Each of those three men took papers, and promised to read them. As they asked about the Sabbath, I told them what the Bible says about it. I sold many other papers in the same place.”

“In several instances a man would give me a sixpence and take four papers, so he could give to his friends. In other cases, one would buy and ask others to do so. When they would ask me what was in the paper, I would say, ‘Something that concerns you.’ I enjoyed telling them about the soon coming of our Saviour; and when they took the papers, I would tell them they would find more about it in the papers. One young man came to me with his face all smiles because he had read something about the pope. He asked me if it was a Catholic paper [he was a Catholic]. I told him no, but that it was a good paper. So an hour passed very quickly. I had sold sixty-one papers, and received eight shillings [two dollars] for them.”

“I was stopped in one place—one of the worst in Cape Town. They told me the crowd was too rough on Saturday nights, but any other night I could go in. They did not know that I had an unseen Protector. One man paid me for three papers and asked me to give them away, which I did, and the people promised to read them.

“This work did my soul good, and by the grace of God, it will not be the last time I shall go. It would have been easy to sell the one hundred and four papers if I had started earlier. After receiving the papers, the men would sometimes read them aloud. No one can tell the good that may result from this. In every case but one I was treated with respect, and the exception was not worth mentioning. I do hope my brethren and sisters will share the blessing there is in doing this work.”

King Williams Town.—Brother Moko is working among the natives in the vicinity of King Williams Town. He writes: “I am glad to be here. It is where my heart has ever longed to be since I became a Sabbath-keeper. Now the Lord has brought me here. Pray for me that I may be a blessing and a true witness for the Lord.” He is becoming acquainted with the better class of natives, and is introducing the message in various ways.

Uitenhage.—I am thankful to be able to report progress in the work here. The Lord has provided us with a lot for our church building. This lot cost us seventy-five pounds, and is paid for. The plans have been drawn by an architect, and we have almost finished making the bricks. The building is to be 30 x 40 ft., with baptistery and dressing rooms, and folding doors for dividing off a portion for a schoolroom.

The donations sent in and promised amount to about one hundred and seventy pounds, and we need cash with which to proceed further. We trust that enough donations will come in soon to furnish all the materials we need. So far every donation we have received has come as a voluntary offering, proffered without our personal solicitation, and we feel thankful for this manifestation of God’s leading in the hearts of His dear people. Another sister has begun to observe the Sabbath. Herbert J. Edmed.

East London.—The work in this place is progressing. Three precious souls have recently been added to our number. We are holding Bible readings with twenty-three others, the majority of whom, we have reason to believe, will soon decide to obey. All these are intelligent people and well connected, some being related to the leading families in the colony.

We have never seen such a readiness to make haste to keep the commandments. Of the six persons keeping the Sabbath, five kept the Sabbath following its presentation. Our Sabbath-school now has a membership of twenty.

Canvassing for our books has been a great help in starting the work here. Through this means several have become interested, and have invited us to their homes to teach them further concerning the truth. Quite a number have expressed their appreciation of “Coming King.” One intelligent man said that no other book had ever given him so much light regarding the events now taking place. I have delivered about five hundred copies of “Coming King,” and in addition to this Mrs. Tarr and myself together have sold about three hundred miscellaneous books.

Brother Ernst reports a good interest among the German people, having his time well filled with Bible readings as a result of his distributing tracts. One German lady has accepted the truth, and others are in the balance.

We feel that now is the time to push the work with vigor, for opposition has already arisen. Many who might now be induced to investigate will soon, no doubt, have made their decision. D. F. Tarr.

Elder F. L. Mead is still in charge of the Bulawayo Mission farm.

Brother Barnard, of Durban, recently sold ninety-one Sentinels one Saturday night.

The South African war is a source of hindrance to the work of carrying the message in that field.

The companies at Uitenhage, Cambridge, Grahams Town, and Sharon have not yet been organized into churches; but there is a Sabbath-school at each place.

Elder W. S. Hyatt, President of the South African Conference, says: “A large amount of our literature has been scattered over Africa. Thousands of papers have been placed in the hands of soldiers and sailors, and distributed in hospitals and Boer prisons and camps; yet it seems but a drop in the pail. We feel a deep interest in this work, especially that of furnishing the Boer camps and prisons and the hospitals with our good papers. Now they have time to read and consider; hence it is our time to work.”

Elder G. W. Reaser and family, and Sister Cornwell, a Bible worker, are engaged in the work in Natal.

Our canvassers at Durban are Q. H. Jubber, S. S. Barnard and Mrs. Barnard, S. W. de Lange, Mrs. Kassebaum; at Verulam, C. H. Kassebaum; at Kimberley, Miss Webster; at Uitenhage, T. J. Francis; at King Williams Town, R. Moko; at Klipdam, A. Tickton; at East London, D. F. Tarr; at Maitland, J. Stapleford; and at Woodstock, Mrs. Stapleford. There are doubtless other brethren and sisters canvassing in South Africa whose names we have been unable to find.

Brother O. O. Fortner reports the number of missionary papers sent out during the first half of August to be 4,580, as follows: Zion’s Wachter, 1,770; Sentinels, 1,610; Bible Echo, 825; Present Truth, 375; total 4,580. “This,” he says, “does not include the papers distributed at the docks and camps of this peninsula. The Zion’s Wachter and many of the other papers were sent for distribution among the Dutch refugee camp, and most of the others for the military camps. The people are glad to get the papers. There are many other places that we wish to supply with this literature.”