p. 16 | L. G. KNIGHT by L. G. Knight

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 29, 1906

L. G. KNIGHT

By L. G. Knight

Panama

As a result of the tent effort at Colon, there has been a good interest awakened. We pitched the tent January 12, and began meetings that evening, continuing into the fourth week without missing a single night, an unusual occurrence for this climate, as we have rains nearly every week the year round. From the very start, the Lord's guiding hand was seen, even in finding a suitable

place for the tent. I called on the superintendent of the Panama railroad to secure a certain plat of ground, he refused to let me have that, but after thinking a moment, said he would let me have a better place for the tent, a nice grassy spot between Colon and Cristobal. The latter place is the American quarters. The secretary gave me a written contract as a protection, to show to the police or any who might try to make trouble for us; in fact, the superintendent and secretary of the Panama railroad did all any one could ask for or reasonably expect, charging nothing for the ground, although in Colon every little space is considered valuable. The very day we took the tent down, they staked out on the spot a building foundation. Also, when the meetings were closed, they gave me a pass to the city of Panama and return, which gave me an opportunity of viewing again the big ditch work, which was in marked contrast to what I saw on my last trip a little over two years ago. There is now seen activity from one end to the other. At Culebra Cut I saw the steam shovels at work; they are a great invention for moving dirt. While steady at work, a dump car is loaded in one minute. While at this place, I visited four who had recently begun to observe the Sabbath. These had been brought out by Brother A. E. Connor's effort while located there.

The tent effort in Colon was considered by all the believers to be a success. Nothing, it is said, has ever stirred that place like the gospel tent. A notice of these meetings was printed in the Colon papers. The effect was to more firmly establish believers, encourage and build them up, and also to command a greater respect for our work. Although there was not directly so much done in gathering in souls as would be desired, six were baptized, and four others united with us, making ten accessions in all. The church-membership is now thirty-seven. We now leave them to labor in watering the seed sown, and they seem to realize as never before that it is obligatory upon them because of the widespread interest; and we trust that God will add the increase. Pray for this needy field with so few to work this large territory.