Results of Ship Missionary Work.
LAST year an English vessel visited San Francisco, and the captain became somewhat interested in the truth of the Third Angel's Message. He attended one or two meetings, at the request of the ship missionary, and before he sailed he bought about fifteen dollars' worth of our publications. As the result of his investigations, he soon commenced to keep the Sabbath, and allowed no unnecessary work to be done on that day. The few extracts which we give from his letter will be of general interest. It was written before he had reached his destination:— "Hitherto have we been guided in safety; hitherto have we kept the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord our God; and hitherto have we been blessed with beautiful and steady winds and weather, scarcely necessitating the ordinary trimming of sails on the seventh and first days of the week. Even my officers remarked it with me, as if God had taken notice of us and was pleased with us. The sailors and the young men seem impressed with the sacredness of the day." "My next crew will be apprised before engaging, of the keeping of the Sabbath. I am very much pleased and benefited by the works I received, and have allowed the crew to peruse them." "I would be exceedingly thankful were you making me a speciality in your prayers before God." "I wonder how many ships there are afloat that keep the seventh-day Sabbath holy to God. I may have some difficulty in Liverpool, but I must do the best I can. I will write you of my next destination." Let no one think that the ship mission is a side issue. If all the labor expended had borne no other fruit, it would not have been in vain. But this is only one; other similar instances are known, and many will never be known till the Judgment. And the seed sown multiplies. As this vessel with its Sabbath-keeping crew visits different parts of the world, leaving tracts and papers at every place, who can estimate the good that may be done? The value of the ship mission has not been realized as it should be, and the work has sometimes been allowed to suffer for lack of means. The men who are engaged in it are devoted men who have had experience in the work, and God is blessing their labors. Shall we not aid them by our prayers and our means?