THE INSTITUTIONS OF AVONDALE.
By E. C. Chapman
Another year has passed in the history of the little Adventist colony which is situated among the rock-ribbed hills of a rural district of New South Wales. The warm breezes of midsummer now rustle among the tall gum trees, while the earth gives forth its store of fruits and melons with which to make glad the hungry toilers. The past year has been an important one in many ways to the people of Avondale, and bears upon the calendar of history a record of advancement. There are four institutions located upon the Avondale estate, and all are quite thoroughly equipped, and are directly connected with the work of the third angel's message. Their development, consequently, is of general interest, and their success of infinite importance. The school, the Health Retreat, the food factory, and the Avondale Press are the four vines of divine planting which make Avondale an educational center. Without exception, each of these institutions has experienced a prosperous year. While only a beginning has been made in many lines, and there remain many battles to be fought, it is very evident to those of us who are privileged to observe from day to day the unfolding of each divine providence, that God is guiding at Avondale. Busy hands are now actively engaged, during these closing days of the vacation season, in the work of preparation for the coming session. The first term of 1902 opens January 7, and a goodly number of students are expected. The work of the coming year is entered upon with courage, and gives promise of success. The school is well equipped with teachers of experience and consecration. Every one who visits the Avondale Health Retreat is delighted with the place, not so much because of any special natural advantages which it might be supposed that the place enjoys, but because of the atmosphere of homelike friendship and Christian courtesy which pervades the place. Its patronage is increasing, its influence broadening, and its indebtedness rapidly passing away. Several patients have already come to know the truth through the associations of the Health Retreat. This institution, which has for years been struggling with many difficulties, is experiencing brighter days of late; and tho the management have still their portion of perplexity, there has not been a time in years when the outlook was more promising than now. Distributing headquarters for the foods has been established in one of the busy centers of Sydney, and the business is growing from month to month. This printing office also has enjoyed a prosperous year. It is the youngest of the institutions of Avondale, and, tho still a comparatively small institution, it has been favored with a good run of work during most of the past year. This has not only been a means of help in the matter of training workers, but has resulted in placing the institution on a good financial footing. Three regular monthly journals are issued by our press, the Union Conference Record, the Herald of Health, which is hereafter to be called the Australasian Good Health, and the Joyful Tidings. Besides these publications, considerable matter has been issued in the Polynesian languages, and such other commercial work done and work for our own institutions as the office was able to obtain. Over 125,000 copies of the missionary paper Joyful Tidings have been circulated. Most of these have gone to the isolated regions commonly called the back blocks of New South Wales. The paper is doing a great work, and souls are rejoicing in the truth as a result of this effort. Only last Sabbath we received a letter from a young farmer of northern New South Wales, in which he said he was greatly interested in the work of the Tidings. To show his interest, he enclosed a £5 check to aid in carrying on the work. That was the third time that the same young man has written us during the last few months. His first letter contained £1, the second £3, and his Christmas gift was, as we have said, £5. Tho keeping the Sabbath, he has never heard any preaching. God is caring for His work in its needs, and it is with courage that we go forward.