SCOTLAND by Mrs. Mary Lamie

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 12, 1900

SCOTLAND

By Mrs. Mary Lamie

MOTHERWELL AND NEWARTHILL.—It would be a help to us to know that our brethren and sisters in America are praying for and rejoicing with us in Scotland; and we know you can better do this when you know what we are doing. We have been here a year and a half. We first lived in Longriggend,—a dirty, coal-mining village. Mr. Lamie worked in the mines, and in the evenings held Bible readings and visited. I held children's meetings, women's meetings, and out-door meetings with the women, in a neighboring village, and did whatever I could for the sick, trying to interest the people in healthful living and temperance. The children sold our missionary paper, Present Truth, and we all distributed reading-matter. When we left that place, one man had accepted the truth. He has engaged in the work of distributing papers, and is doing all he can to interest others in the truth he loves.

We removed to Avonhead, a mile distant. The children and I did what we could there in distributing reading-matter. I held meetings with the children, and had a health and temperance reading circle with young girls. We used Dr. Kress's magazine, Life and Health, for our text-book, and the talks were based on Dr. Kellogg's charts.

For the last two months Mr. Lamie has been working in the mines in this place, and I have been nursing in Motherwell. Brother Monteith has been canvassing in Glasgow for Present Truth and Life and Health. My work in Motherwell has been of especial interest, and we have removed to this place, where we are within three miles of the town, and yet have the benefit of the country air for our children and Brother Monteith's.

The first patient I had in Motherwell was a man who had been afflicted for months with rheumatism. He was not even allowed, nor was he able, to lift his hands from under the huge pile of blankets that covered him. I could not at first get permission either from them or from the doctor to do anything. At last they consented to massage. After the first few treatments, the doctor was willing, and they were anxious, that the treatments should be given. In three weeks he was much improved, and is now quite well. The doctor became very friendly, and sent me to other patients. One of them was one of the most influential women in this part of Scotland. I treated her and her two children, and told her all I could about present truth. She went out to a country home, and took only a few servants, and had me go there to help her plan and prepare vegetarian meals. She enjoyed them, and now has the Third Angel's Message by the right hand in the health reform. She and her husband are very active in evangelistic and temperance work; and as they are wealthy as well as zealous, they have it in their power to do much good. I can not use valuable space for details, but the Lord has blessed me every hour in the seed-sowing. Some one else may water what I have sown, and God will give the increase. They have removed to London now, as her husband is a member of Parliament; but she took with her a list of books to purchase at the office. The morning before I left, I made a copy of Dr. Kellogg's food chart for her. She read Mrs. Henry's “Studies in Home and Child Life,” also “Healthful Living.”

I am now giving treatment to a woman evangelist. She has read “The Abiding Spirit,” and thinks it excellent. A man in Motherwell is reading “Here and Hereafter,” and has already decided to live in harmony with God's laws, and wishes to take Life and Health.

The Rechabites recently had a meeting here, and invited me to bring samples of our health foods, and explain the principles of vegetarianism. I also had the privilege of addressing the women at a woman's meeting. When I told them of the work of Mrs. Henry and Mrs. Kellogg in America, a man on the platform said, “Praise the Lord!” This was a remarkable thing for this country, where the people are very “canny” about expressing their feelings. I read extracts from “A Woman Ministry,” and many of the women were deeply impressed. It was my part to give the usual Bible reading, and I chose for a subject The Restoration of the Image of God in the Soul.

I have opportunities in Motherwell to do all the work I am able. There is a small society of vegetarians there, and I have fallen into friendly intercourse with them. I believe we sometimes think that God wants us to call attention to the fourth commandment only; but I am convinced that that commandment is no oftener broken than the sixth. The world is killing, as much as it is breaking the Sabbath. I praise God for a truth that is the truth about everything. I expect to start a cooking-class in Motherwell soon. Several women have already promised to attend. We also hope to have Bible classes, children's meetings, and cooking-classes here as soon as we get settled.

We are in quite a populous district. Motherwell, Hamilton, Wishaw, Airdrie, and Coatbridge are all large cities, with extensive iron and steel works—and all within a radius of six miles. We are about ten miles from Glasgow. The roads are beautiful, and it is pleasant and easy walking. We thank the Lord for strength to walk and for a field in which to work.

MRS. MARY LAMIE.