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The Australasian Field

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 2, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 31.

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The Australasian Field

By Ole Andres Olsen

It is now about ten months since our arrival in this field, and during this time we have visited the several divisions except Tasmania. The time for the Tasmanian conference is set for the latter part of July.
Our last report was written after the New Zealand camp-meeting; since then we have attended the meetings in Victoria, West Australia, South Australia, and Queensland. We are glad to report progress in every part of the field. The largest meeting, in proportion to the membership, was that in West Australia.
The Victorian Conference added five new churches during the year; the West Australian Conference, six; the South Australian, one. There was also a corresponding growth in tithes, and offerings to missions. The Sabbath-schools in West Australia had contributed £223 3s 8d ($1,086.01) to missions during the year. This is a very good showing, and reveals an excellent interest. South Australia has added one church building during the year, and the financial condition of the conference has also materially improved.
The Queensland meeting was the smallest of all the general meetings. This conference has passed through a trying experience, caused by the long drought and general depression which affected almost every industry. Many well-to-do persons lost almost all they possessed. One instance will illustrate many others. One of our sisters informed me that before the drought, “We were well-to-do people, and when the drought came and continued so long, we spent all our money to save the stock; then finally all our stock perished, and we were left destitute.” This general depression had its effect on our work, and brought about a feeling of discouragement. Even the workers in the conference confessed to having lost heart. This was the general condition at the beginning of our camp-meeting.
But the Lord turned our captivity and gave us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” I have seldom witnessed a greater change, nor seen a more decided victory come into a meeting, than that in Queensland. The last Sabbath of the meeting will long remain in our memories, on account of the blessings received.
This conference has been backward in many ways. Up to this time no effort had been put forth to raise their proportionate amount for the establishment of our publishing work at Warburton, Victoria. Neither have they had any tent- and camp-meeting equipment, but have either had to hire or borrow from other conferences, which has caused more or less disadvantage. On the last day of the meeting they decided to change all this, and voted to begin immediately to raise a fund of £500 ($2,435),—£200 ($974) to make up their proportionate amount to the publishing work, and £300 ($1,461) for tent- and camp-meeting outfit. During the meeting over £200 ($974) of this sum was provided by the small company of believers present. Thus this meeting which began under much discouragement closed with the shout of victory and triumph. From this meeting the ministers enter the work with joy and hope, and the brethren and sisters return to their post of duty with courage and confidence. Thus better days are in store for Queensland.
After the camp-meeting I enjoyed the privilege of visiting five different places. Brother Nellis accompanying me. As we brought them the good report of the camp-meeting, all hearts were made to rejoice; and with readiness they co-operated with the recommendations passed by the conference.
We have been made glad to read the good reports that come from the workers in every part of the world-wide field. Truly the message is rising and going with increasing power and strength, and is being hastened to its final triumph and victory. In this, our hearts are made to rejoice.
While we see the message going with increased power, we also see evidences that the Spirit of God is being withdrawn, and that the judgments of God in the destruction of life and property are greatly on the increase. The terrible catastrophe that befell San Francisco is but a forerunner of what shortly will be a general experience. These things ought to stir our souls to a sense of the solemnity of this time, and of what is soon to come on the earth.
We are glad to report progress and good courage in every branch of work throughout the Australasian Union Conference. The present school year at Avondale opened under very favorable conditions, and is progressing under special blessings and prosperity both spiritually and financially. On returning from Queensland I made a brief visit to Cooranbong. It was an inspiring sight to meet in the school chapel so many bright, intelligent young people, all aglow with the missionary idea. The attendance is about the same as last year.
It was likewise very interesting to learn from Prof. C. W. Irwin, the principal of the school, that every department of the school was working even more successfully than at any previous time. The work, including the farm, the health food factory, the printing-press, carpentry, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, tent-making, and a number of other departments, is all carried on by the students, with the exception of the foremen of some of the departments; in other departments a student acts as foreman. The plan of organizing and adjusting the work is truly a marvel. It is an intensely interesting subject for study. Every face beamed with joy, and all are just as busy as bees.
The blessing of the Lord is also in our health and sanitarian work. The Sydney Sanitarium has enjoyed an excellent patronage all the year, and the spiritual interest among the helpers, as well as among the patients, is most excellent. All the premises show much improvement. The health institutions in New Zealand and South Australia are also being greatly prospered.
Since our last report we have also made some advancement in more remote portions of our field. Elder McElhany and his wife have gone to Manila, in the Philippines. Thus a permanent beginning has been made in this part of our union conference, and it must be enlarged and strengthened as rapidly as possible.
We have also the joy of having furnished additional workers for the great China mission, in the persons of Brother and Sister Allum, who were students of the Avondale School, and there proved themselves both faithful and efficient. They left us happy in the privilege of going, and our best wishes and earnest prayers follow them.
The reports from our island field are cheering indeed. The Lord is opening the way in a special manner. Especially do we feel a deep concern for the schools in the different places where native youth—and older ones too—can receive a training to prepare them to bear the message to their own people. The work at Singapore especially is being much blessed and prospered. Elder Gates, the superintendent of our island districts, is kept constantly on the move, but can scarcely begin to fill all the urgent calls that come for assistance. The island field will be a subject for careful consideration at our coming union conference.
We would also express joy and gratitude for the union, harmony, and hearty co-operation that prevail in all the different departments of our work throughout the entire field. All are of good courage, and our hearty sympathy is with the message and the work throughout the whole world. Every evidence goes to show that we are on the homeward stretch.
Our sympathy and earnest prayers go up to God for those who bear many and weighty responsibilities in the general work, especially those connected with the General Conference whose position is so responsible and taxing. May the blessing and power of the Holy Spirit be given them in large measure. The perils of the last days are here, and never before did we need the special guidance of the Lord as much as we do at the present time, that we turn neither to the right nor the left, but go straight forward in God's appointed way. The Lord himself is leading; what a comfort!
We are more and more grateful for the gift of the spirit of prophecy. How wonderfully the Lord has made provision for his work in the midst of the last-day perils. May God help us all to watch, stand fast in the faith, quit ourselves like men, and be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, pressing forward to the final triumph and victory so nigh at hand. O. A. OLSEN.