p. 13 | OUR WORK AND WORKERS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 12.

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

THE study of the Bible has brought a request for baptism by about a dozen of the larger pupils of the church-school at Salamanca, N. Y.

THE work of publishing “Christ Our Saviour,” “Steps to Christ,” four chapters of “Patriarchs and Prophets,” and the last chapter of “Great Controversy” in the Samoan language is now progressing encouragingly. The first-named work is already printed.

SEVEN candidates baptized at Palmerston North, N. Z., and a live interest in selling papers on Saturday nights, form part of a report by Brother W. L. H. Baker in the Record. He also states that in New Zealand there is a growing demand for literature, and religious liberty and health literature is being circulated quite extensively.

THE little church-school at Adam’s Center, N. Y., is thus noted by Brother G. B. Thompson: “The school is doing nicely. It is held in Sister Kellogg’s parlor, and she said she never took so much pleasure in her parlor as now. No better use it would seem could be found for a parlor. Better to sacrifice the parlor than to lose the boys and girls. Are there not others who will turn their parlors into schoolrooms?”

THERE are many encouraging features connected with the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Brother Walter Harper writes from Oro Grande, Cal.: “I left Oakland January 28 to work on that grand book for a few weeks in Southern California. In one month the dear heavenly Father gave me over 160 orders. His is all the honor and praise. I have had some blessed experiences in this work. I see so many tokens of God’s love and care. May all do their part in this work soon, and close it up.” To this we add the following from the Montana Bivouac: “Sister C. F. Stewart, of Ovando, recently sold forty-three ‘Object Lessons’ in Granite, in about a day and a half. She is now in Townsend, where she reports fourteen orders almost immediately upon her arrival there. Sister Stewart has now sold over 100 copies, which is the greatest number sold by any one person in our conference.” One brother, in Seattle, Western Washington Conference, sold 100 copies.

BROTHER HUBERT FLETCHER reports to the Review that encouraging progress in the work is being made in Jamaica. January 17 two candidates were baptized. Since then a young minister, together with the leader and his wife, of a small Independent Baptist Church, and two other aged men had been added to the church at Swift River. A church of 17 active members has been organized. After this organization Brother Fletcher went to a place called John’s Hall, to assist in the work of building a church.

THE following interesting item regarding the work in Calcutta, India, is from a letter by Brother L. J. Burgess to the Minnesota Worker, dated January 28:—

The only organized church of the Seventh-day Adventists here in Calcutta was formed about a year ago. The membership is now about 50. Last Sabbath seven new members were received by baptism. We have made only a small beginning in the native work. We have six tracts printed in Bengali and one in Hindi. There are still about 198 other languages being spoken by 300,000,000 people, but we believe the time is near when these will all hear the message we have for them. There are good openings for ministers, Bible workers, nurses, and canvassers, but the great need of the native people, it seems to me, is for “Gospel farmers.” Here is an open door to a fruitful field. Land can be secured very cheaply in almost any climate desired, either in the hills or on the plain, where all manner of fruits and grains will grow in abundance with the blessing of the Lord, and at the same time the seed of the Gospel can be cultivated in the hearts of those who have never heard of the kingdom of heaven.

OF the branch Sabbath-school work Sister L. Flora Plummer, corresponding secretary of the International Sabbath-school Association, reports:—

In one place there are four branch schools held regularly on Sabbath afternoon, besides the regular Sabbath-school held Sabbath morning. One of our ministers, in writing of this place, says: “One great advantage of the branch work is the keeping of the young people busy in the Lord’s work on Sabbath. It also helps to develop in them a spirit of work. It also opens the way for other lines of work. When people know we are doing what we can to help their children, they become more friendly, and some are asking questions upon themes, which, if studied, will lead them into the truth.” Some of our workers in mission fields have found this plan a helpful one. Sister Minnie Hoffman, in Finland, writes of a branch school which she has been holding in Borga. In addition to the teaching of the Bible lesson to these children which she had gathered together, she told them of the people in other countries. These little Finnish children became so interested in the heathen in Africa that they obtained from their parents and friends a donation of $9.80 for our African Mission.