The Missionary by Dudley Marvin Canright

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 20, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 12.

The Missionary.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Missionary Work in California and Australia.

AT our State quarterly meeting at Healdsburg, several resolutions were adopted laying out missionary work for the future. Some steps have been taken toward carrying out these plans. A list of the libraries of the State has been obtained, and those which have not been fully supplied with the books recommended by the International Society, will be furnished. Quite a number have been visited with a view to furnishing these books, with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and Good Health. The almost unanimous expression is that they will be thankfully received. We hope before our next meeting that this work will be completed.

Resolution No. 9 reads as follows:—

WHEREAS, The islands of the Pacific Ocean present a vast unoccupied field which must very soon receive the light of the Third Angel's Message; Resolved, That we urge our tract and missionary workers to anticipate and prepare the way for the living messenger by a thorough and judicious canvass of these islands with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

In regard to this resolution, we have obtained a new directory of the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the adjacent cities and towns. Names have been selected, and already quite a large number of the SIGNS are on their way to that distant country. Twelve or fifteen of the libraries have been written to, and a descriptive circular of a dozen of our bound books, with copies of the SIGNS and Good Health, has been sent them, and these will be furnished if the librarians wish to receive them. Through the kindness of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, we can send these books at a very low rate of freight, so we hope soon to be able to refer the readers of the SIGNS in Australia to libraries in their own towns, where they can have access to the following list of books: "History of the Sabbath," "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation," "The Coming Conflict," "Life of Miller," "Life Sketches," "United States in Prophecy," "The Sanctuary," "Sketches from the Life of Paul," and three volumes of the "Great Controversy."

There is a vast field for missionary labor in Australia and New Zealand. The island of Australia is 2,400 miles in length east and west, and 1,371 miles north and south, and is divided into five colonies, as follows: Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, has a population of 860,067; New South Wales, of which Sidney is the capital, has a population of 739,385; South Australia, of which Adelaide is the capital, has a population of 267,573; Queensland, of which Brisbane is the capital, has a population of 226,077; and Western Australia, of which Perth is the capital, has a population of 29,019. Besides this are the islands of Tasmania, with a population of 114,762, and New Zealand, with a population of about 500,000.

The fine libraries to be found in every town of importance shows that they are a reading people, and no doubt there are thousands who would gladly accept the truths of the Third Angel's Message if they had an opportunity to read, or hear them explained. On account of expense of postage, we shall not be able to send as many papers and letters as we otherwise could. Postage on papers is two cents each, and twelve cents on each letter. Persons who wish to have a part in this work can be supplied with names by Miss Anna L. Ingels, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.; or if they wish to assist in paying postage, she will receive donations and see that they are properly applied. We hope at no distant day that missionaries may be sent, and a mission established in Australia. M. C. ISRAEL. Fresno, March 14, 1884.