The Third Angel's Message in Palestine
By W. H. Wakeham
AFTER my trip through Syria, I spent a few days with the workers in Jaffa and Jerusalem. Landing at Jaffa, I was met and heartily welcomed by Brother Gregorius, who has charge of our medical missionary work in that city. Since the closing of our treatment rooms there, nearly a year ago, our nurses have been employed in the Bella Vista Hydro, a new institution combining hotel accommodations with various hydrotherapeutic treatments. This institution is owned by a wealthy English woman, but is under the management of a Mr. Feingold, a converted Jew, whose wife is from Scotland. These are all nominal Sabbath-keepers, so our nurses are entirely free from all duty on the Sabbath; but their Sabbath-keeping is really more Jewish than Christian, and they have so thoroughly imbibed the modern “Anglo-Israel” idea that there seems no room in their minds for any further light concerning the third angel's message. Our nurses think that it is unwise to remain in their employ after the present contract expires, so we are planning to move them to some other city. The Lord seems to be opening the way for them to locate in Haifa, a growing city, with a prosperous German colony, situated at the foot of Mt. Carmel on the Bay of Acre. To this place our workers will soon go if a suitable location can be secured for treatment rooms. Haifa is a favorable place in many ways. It is a healthier city than either Jaffa or Jerusalem. A recently completed railroad connects it with Damascus, and it will, no doubt, very soon have similar connections with Jerusalem. The harbor is much better than at Jaffa, which has, in fact, no harbor at all, and landing is simply impossible in a heavy sea. Haifa, moreover, seems more enterprising than many other Oriental cities. The progress of our work in Jaffa, though characterized by Eastern slowness, has been onward. Our nurses have worked with meager facilities. Many difficulties have been encountered. Two years ago a small organization was effected, known as the Jaffa-Jerusalem church. But shortly after, the elder and the deacon, being conference workers, went to other fields on account of their health, and others moved away. The few that remained continued firm, other workers came, and the work went on, and others accepted the truth. At the time of my visit it was deemed advisable to reorganize the church, and elect officers who were permanent residents. This was done, and three new converts were baptized, and then all partook of the ordinances, which had not been celebrated there for nearly a year and a half. The love and unity prevailing among the members of that little company was most refreshing. They all feel now that the message is firmly planted there to continue until the Lord comes. All are of good courage, and we feel sure that the Lord will add to their numbers. The workers now in Jerusalem are comparatively new, but seem to be doing well. Their work is increasing, the receipts of the treatment rooms during last year being more than any preceding year. Two or three persons are favorably impressed with the truth, and seem likely to accept it erelong. While in Jerusalem I visited the Protestant cemetery on Mt. Zion, where lies the body of our faithful worker, Brother Leschner, who not long ago was cut down, in the prime of life, almost at the beginning of what seemed a career of usefulness. The workers in Palestine are planning to place a small, modest stone to mark the last resting-place of one they had all learned to love. All in all, the work in Palestine is encouraging. May the Lord give courage and grace to the workers on this, the battle-ground of primitive Christianity.