From America to Australia
By S. M. Cobb
It may be of interest to our people to learn that the party that left San Francisco, Cal., for Australia, July 16, reached their destination safely. Our company consisted of eleven adults and seven children, but of this number there were two children and one sister who had been visiting friends in America, and were returning to their home in Australia. We sailed on the steamer “Sonoma.” We were twenty-two days on the water, and had a very smooth passage. We stopped off at Honolulu one day. At this place we had a pleasant surprise. Brother Burgess met us at the boat, and went with us to the different places of interest in the city, and then conducted us to the hospitable home of Lyle, where we met Sister Hudson and others. After a bountiful dinner, we returned to the boat. We left Honolulu, July 22, at 8 P. M., and July 28 we reached Pago-Pago. Leaving this place, we crossed the one hundred and eightieth meridian, or day-line, Sabbath, August 1, at 2:15 P. M., and reached Auckland, August 3. We were much pleased to meet Brother and Sister Hare at Auckland, and we had a pleasant visit with them during our short stop at this place. Leaving Auckland, we reached Sydney, Friday, at 10 A. M., August 7, and were greeted by Elders Gates, Woodford, and Paap, Sister Irwin, and others. Our hearts were cheered by the warm welcome we received, and by the thought that inviting fields of labor were waiting18for us. The union conference meeting to be held had been postponed until September 3, as Elder Irwin had not returned from Europe. Sister Graham arrived at Sydney the same day we reached that place, having come from Europe by way of South Africa. Sabbath day, August 8, all the laborers who had just arrived from America were requested to meet at the Stanmore church in Sydney at 3 P. M., where we found about two hundred of our people gathered to welcome us. This meeting was very refreshing and helpful to us all, and we felt that it was good to be there. We are now scattered in various parts of the field, laboring till the conference convenes. We are full of hope and courage, and are glad to be here.