Energetic Workers and a Lively Growth — Great Changes Wrought in Quarter of a Century
FOUR days’ run from Suva, Fiji, brought us to Auckland, New Zealand, on the last day of June. As we sailed down Hauraki Gulf to the Auckland harbor, my wife and I reviewed the mingled feelings of fear and hope we experienced the first time we came down that gulf. It was the evening of November 13, 1886.
At that time we were alone, and we did not know a soul in New Zealand. We were young and inexperienced, and had never before labored outside the United States. Whether we would understand the British people, and whether we would succeed in our new field, without a single experienced laborer to counsel us, was a serious matter with us.
But we had come in response to what we felt sure was our duty, and we hoped in God and prayed for help. And now on returning, our hearts were filled with gratitude as we reviewed the marvelous work the Lord has wrought through His people during the years that have intervened.
Meetinghouse in Auckland, New Zealand
MANY BELIEVERS EXTEND WELCOME
Arriving at the wharf, we found a company of brethren and sisters waiting to welcome us. Among them were Pastor J. M. Cole, the president of the New Zealand Conference; Pastor Westerman, in charge of the work in the city of Auckland; Dr. P. M. Keller; and some of the first believers to accept the truth under our labors twenty-eight years ago.
Our first call, after being located, was on Brother Edward Hare, to whose house we went direct from the steamer when we came out in 1886. We were glad to find Brother and Sister Hare still rejoicing in the message.
Arrangements had been made for a stay of one week in Auckland. The brethren in all the surrounding towns had been invited to spend the week together in the city, and many came in. The meetings were held in the Ponsonby church, which we erected in 1887, at the close of our first series of tent meetings. This was the first church building erected by Seventh-day Adventists south of the equator. It is still a good, clean, creditable building.
Through the faithful labors of others who have been located at Auckland from time to time, this building has not only been kept in good repair and enlarged by an extension at the rear for Sabbath-school and quarterly meeting purposes, but the membership has been more than maintained. There were a hundred members or more when we left, twenty-six years ago, to open a new field a few hundred miles south. But now there are many more; and in addition to this, there has been established a live, active church in another part of the city, with a very neat church building of their own.
SEVENTH-DAY “ADVENTURERS”
Under these circumstances, it was a very great pleasure to visit this city which we entered with so much trepidation more than a quarter of a century ago. When we began our work there, we were called Seventh-day “Adventurers” by some of the ministers who opposed us, and the people were advised to pay no attention to our teaching, for when the winter rains came on, we would pack our “calico church” for fresh pastures, and leave them stranded. Time has proved that we were not “Adventurers”; and when the winter rains came, instead of moving to new pastures, we moved into a substantial building erected by the believers who accepted the message. Instead of our cause proving to be a short-lived, transient affair, it took deep root, remained, and grew. Now it stretches from the North Cape through the whole length of the country to the bluff in the extreme south. Thus it has demonstrated its great vitality and its splendid staying qualities. To Him whose mighty hand guides and guards His own cause be all the praise and all the glory.
ACTIVE MISSIONARY PHYSICIANS
During our stay in Auckland, we made our home with Drs. P. M. and Florence Keller. They have been in this city eight or ten years, and in the Australasian field fourteen years. Since locating in Auckland, they have built up a large practice. They now have more work than they are really able to carry. Dr. Florence is a member of the city hospital board, and also a member of the public schools board. She was elected to these positions by a large vote of the citizens.
Brother and Sister Keller are known throughout the city as earnest, out-and-out Seventh-day Adventists. They are active in church work of all kinds. This makes them a great blessing to the church, and to the cause generally in New Zealand. Brother Keller is one of the elders of the Auckland church, and Dr. Florence works earnestly for the advancement of all lines of missionary interests. The brethren and sisters love them, and feel that the church would sustain a great loss should they be compelled to leave Auckland.
Why should not all our physicians and nurses become strong factors for the advancement and the finishing of our work in every community where they locate?
THE OLD VETERANS AND NEW RECRUITS
From Auckland we journeyed south, visiting our churches at Cambridge, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch. We had traveled over all this territory during the four years we were located in New Zealand. At Napier we had labored a year and a half, holding meetings in the tent and in public halls until a church was erected. During this time, we organized and directed the colporteur work in the central part of New Zealand. We also organized the New Zealand Conference, and established the headquarters at Wellington, the capital.
It was a great pleasure to visit these places after so many years, and to meet so many brethren and sisters who had embraced the truth in those early days. And it was just as pleasing and cheering to have the privilege of forming the acquaintance of hundreds of new believers who have united with the cause under the faithful labors of those who succeeded us.
SUCCESSFUL AND PROMISING SCHOOL
The New Zealand Conference has established at Palmerston North an excellent school for the education of their young people. It is not a large school; but all things considered, it is one of the most nearly perfect plants we have in our entire list of educational institutions. It is located four miles from the clean, prosperous, growing town of Palmerston North. The soil of the farm is rich. Everything about the building, in material and workmanship, gives evidence of wise planning and thoroughness in its construction.
Brother Joseph Mills, who spent several years at the Avondale Missionary College in its early history, has been in charge of the New Zealand school since the location was fixed at Palmerston North. At the union conference session just held in Sydney, Brother Mills was elected principal of the Avondale Missionary College, and Brother Leonard Paap was chosen principal of the New Zealand school. Both of these young men were but lads when their parents embraced the message. They have grown up in this cause, and have dedicated their lives to its advancement.
Leaving Palmerston North, we went direct to Christchurch, in the South Island. Here we found the church membership larger and stronger than it was at the time of our last visit, fifteen years ago. The brethren had just purchased and fitted up a very neat building, centrally located, for their church362school. We had the privilege of dedicating this plant to the noble work for which it was prepared. All bills were paid, and the school was dedicated free from debt.
Our New Zealand sanitarium is located in an attractive suburb of Christchurch. It was established there about fifteen years ago. Brother Brandstater, who is now both manager and head bath man, has been connected with the institution the most of the time since it was launched. Its patronage, though small, is steady; and the income, I understand, is sufficient to meet expenses. The management told me, with much satisfaction, that quite a large number of the patients who have come to the institution have left rejoicing in the truth. Thus effort is made to have it a strong factor for the spiritual benefit of those who come seeking health.
GROWTH DEMANDS ANOTHER CONFERENCE
Our work in New Zealand closed with a two days’ visit to Wellington, the headquarters of the conference. Brother Cole, the president, who met us at Auckland, remained with us, rendering greatly appreciated service, until we sailed for Sydney. This gave us opportunity to talk over leisurely and thoroughly the needs of the field and the most important steps to take to hasten on the work. We were glad to learn that the brethren had practically decided to organize a second conference. This will be located in the South Island, with headquarters at Christchurch. The membership on the two islands is nearly the same, and the amount of the aid is about equally divided between the two fields.
Naturally this visit to New Zealand was of much deeper interest to us than this report of it can possibly be to those who read it. It revived memories of early struggles, and revealed anew the divine leadership at the head of this cause. The work started in great weakness in this field. It met with strong opposition. It received but little financial support from the home land. Only one draft was ever sent to us from the General Conference treasury. That was for three hundred dollars. With that exception, the mission was entirely self-supporting after our arrival. The leading members of the Hare family, who had embraced the message during Brother Haskell’s visit to New Zealand in 1885, gave the mission generous support from the time we reached the field. It was a great pleasure to meet these dear friends once more. Others who have embraced the message during the years, have rallied to its support. Thus the Lord has kept His cause alive and growing.
FINANCIAL PROSPERITY
At the present time, the conference has seventeen ministers and Bible workers, and a good staff of colporteurs. Besides its evangelical work, it operates a school, a sanitarium, and two vegetarian cafés. Every department is self-supporting, and the treasury carries a good cash balance as a working capital. This field has all the possibilities that make for the steady growth of the cause.
Brother and Sister Cole are in good health, and are greatly enjoying their work. They have the confidence of their fellow workers and the brethren and sisters throughout the field. Nowhere in our travels have we found our people more active and courageous. They give evidence of enjoying a good spiritual experience. Our stay of eighteen days was altogether too short, but we were obliged to hasten on. So we bade them farewell, rejoicing because the work in New Zealand is onward.
