Visit to Warburton and Departure for Africa by George A. Irwin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 28, 1907

Visit to Warburton and Departure for Africa

By George A. Irwin

G. A. IRWIN

On Wednesday, while we were on our way to Melbourne, Elder Gates sailed from Sydney on his trip to Manila and Singapore. We reached Melbourne Wednesday, December 5, at 1:30 P. M., and were met at the station by Brother Salisbury and Sister Hennig. We all went home with Sister Hennig to dinner, and immediately at its close went to the Echo building, in North Fitzroy, to meet Brother Chapman, who had come down to look over the machinery, to see what might be of service to them in their work at Avondale. The interior of the building presented a very different aspect from what it did when I saw it last. The main front building was nearly empty. A few presses were still in place in the back building, and a little work was being done in the room above. Removing the necessary machines and appliances to Warburton to carry on the work there had emptied the building at North Fitzroy. In harmony with the recommendation of a committee appointed at the late union conference to meet on the ground and carefully investigate the situation, it had been decided to close out the business about Jan. 1, 1907, and sell what machinery and fixtures there were left, and rent the building until such time as a sale might be effected. I was told that a lease had already been effected at four pounds a week and taxes.

Leaving the building, we went into the city proper, and spent a short time looking over the rooms that are being fitted up, in which Brother Fisher is soon to open up a hygienic café.

At five o'clock Brethren Olsen and Salisbury and I took the train for Warburton, where we arrived a little after eight o'clock, and were met at the station by Brother Anderson, who took us to his home for the night. Thursday morning being bright and clear, we were astir early, and with Brother Anderson as guide, we looked over the residence portion of the new place, followed the water-pipe to the place where the water was taken from the stream, and then traced it to the reservoir, and saw the volume of water in store, and the overflow pipe that carries the surplus water away through a ravine back of the reservoir and dwellings of our people. There are, all told, twelve new dwellings built and occupied by our people, all of whom are in some way connected with the work of the office. Each dwelling has connected with it all the way from one half an acre to six acres of land. All with whom I conversed seemed much pleased with the place, and were thankful that they were out of the city. Each home is connected with the water-main that supplies the reservoir, and consequently has an abundance of cold, soft spring-water. In addition to this, they can all be supplied with electric light at a nominal cost from the electric plant that lights the factory. Thus, though living in the country, they can have at least some of the city conveniences. Each property is being improved by the removal of the large dead trees and stumps that were so numerous on some parts of the grounds, and by the erection of fences and the planting of fruit and ornamental trees.

When I last saw this place, a little over two years ago, not a blow had been struck in the way of building or improvement. Now they have, in addition to what I have already mentioned, a neat, convenient, and substantially built factory, with stable and other necessary outbuildings. Their water-power system is a perfect success. Even in the driest season they have had an abundance of water from the one stream, yet they have the right to another and stronger one in case of emergency. Now that they have borne the initial expense of the laying of the pipe and making the reservoir, their expense for power is practically nothing. I was pleased to learn from Brother Salisbury that thus far they have been crowded with our own denominational work. Some fears were expressed in the beginning that when they cut off commercial work, the employees would be idle a great portion of the time.

While the removal of the plant from the city of Melbourne has entailed much hard work and some loss, I am sure that it was a move made in the providence of God, and will be accompanied by his special blessing if all work in harmony and maintain that true missionary spirit that should characterize the workers in an institution printing and publishing nothing that does not contain, in some form, the last warning message to this world. Most of the Australian Conferences have contributed liberally toward the fund to erect this new plant. Brother Salisbury, the manager, has worked hard and faithfully to perfect an institution of sufficient capacity to do effectively and creditably the work necessary to supply Seventh-day Adventist literature for Australasia; and since they have followed the Lord's counsel in removing from the city, we have good reasons for expecting the Lord's special blessing upon this branch of his work in the future.

In the forenoon we attended a meeting of the board of managers of the Echo Publishing Company, and at noon I spoke to the employees for an hour relative to the general situation and condition of our work in the States. After dinner Brother Olsen and I took the train and returned to Melbourne. We were met at the station by Elder Hennig, and taken to his home. I felt sorry that my time was so limited that I could not have a meeting with the brethren at Melbourne and at Adelaide.

On Friday morning, December 7, at nine o'clock, I left Elder Hennig's home, accompanied by himself and his wife, Elder Olsen, and Brother F. L. Sharp and his wife, for Port Melbourne, sixteen miles away, where the “Medic” was lying in dock; she was to sail at noon for Cape Town, South Africa, my present destination.

Pastor Wood called at the boat, and I had the pleasure of a few minutes' conversation with him. Elder Olsen remained on deck with me until the last whistle blew for visitors to go ashore. I have been pleased to note the high esteem with which the brethren regard him wherever I have gone. He is well worthy of the confidence they repose in him. The work in Australia under his leadership is growing and expanding. Their late union conference was the largest in point of numbers and the best in missionary and spiritual interest of any heretofore held in the field. While they have a large mission field, they are meeting its demands like men who believe the work is to be finished in this generation. Fourteen new missionaries were sent out from this conference, all of whom they expect to support from their own mission treasury without aid from the General Conference. The brethren in Australia have not only a mind to work, but a mind to give as well.

As the ponderous boat “Medic” swung majestically away from the wharf, and the familiar faces passed out of recognition, and I thought of the long and uncertain journey before me, a momentary feeling of loneliness came over me, such as I had seldom experienced. But when I called to mind the Saviour's promise in the great commission, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” and the one made to Jacob on that lonely night when he lay down with nothing but a stone for a pillow, “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again to this land; for I will not leave thee,” my courage came again, and although I did not know a soul on the boat, the feeling of loneliness had vanished because I felt the presence of the Comforter in my soul, and I involuntarily sang that beautiful hymn:—

“Lonely? no, not lonely While Jesus standeth by; His presence always cheers me; I know that he is nigh. Friendless? no, not friendless, For Jesus is my friend; I change, but he remaineth, The same unto the end.”