Our Work and Workers

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 20, 1898

Our Work and Workers.

The brethren in Iowa are responding liberally to a call for donations to assist in establishing a Rescue Mission at Clinton, in that State.

The superintendent of our central publishing house at Battle Creek, Mich., writes us that “for the last few days we have not shut down our power, either night or day, and the indicator still stands at ‘full steam ahead.’”

A new house of worship at Libertyville, Iowa, is to be dedicated on the 23d inst., meetings to begin on the evening of the 21st. Brother C. Santee will officiate, and the matter of a church organization will be considered at the same time.

The brethren in Toronto, Ont., are making a special effort to assist the poor and needy of that city. In that cold northern climate the poor suffer hardships in the winter season which those in more temperate regions do not experience.

On New Year’s day the church at Battle Creek, Mich., was increased by the addition of one hundred and sixty members, many of whom were children, who have been gathered in by the revival work that had been in progress there for some time.

Brother W. A. Ebert, who is working with the Signs at Elwood, Ind., writes: “We have many rich testimonies in behalf of the good paper, if we had space and time to give them. Sufficient to say that we have been made to realize that God is with it.”

The brethren at Saginaw, Mich., have secured the use of a room in the central part of the city, in which they are now holding mission services. Through the kindness of a business man of the city, they get the hall free of rent. How many other churches might do likewise!

There is to be a general meeting at some point in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, South America, March 8 to 13, for the benefit of the French, German, and Spanish-speaking brethren and others who love the truth. It is designed to have services in all these languages each day.

Throughout the General Conference District No. 1, a collection will be taken on the 22d inst. for the purpose of erecting an addition to the church at South Lancaster, Mass. This is necessary for the accommodation of the students of the academy of that place, who come from all parts of the district.

Brother William Simpson reports to Field Echoes from Brantford, Ont., as follows: “My work is in this city of 15,000 inhabitants. Brother Spear remains on the Reserve about eight miles out in the country, to carry on the work that has started among the Indians. The openings to present the truth in this part of the field are more than we can fill.”

Brother D. P. Gaede, an Iowa laborer, is now on a visit to his old home in Russia. He reports to the Bulletin that “one of our brethren has received license to canvass for our books through the whole of Russia.” He notes having met Brother L. R. Conradi in Germany, who told him of wonderful openings in Petersburg and Riga. In both these places churches have been organized.

Field Echoes says, “One of the Michigan workers who attended the recent conference in Chicago was impressed with the importance of holding cottage meetings; and since returning to his field of labor, writes that he has held one such meeting, in which three souls were converted.” There are so many ways of working for the Lord that every one may find something to do,—“if there be first a willing mind.” Even a cup of cold water in His name does not lose its reward.

The Danish Conference has sent Brother David Ostlund on a mission to Iceland. He started from Copenhagen in November via Leith, Scotland. After leaving the latter place he discovered that a fellow-passenger, an Icelander returning with his family from America, was also a Seventh-day Adventist. He had become an Adventist in America, had heard of the action of the Danish Conference, and thought the missionary would need assistance; so he sold out his property, and was on his way to his old home, when he thus providentially, and to the great joy of both, met the missionary whom he was going to assist. It takes the God of heaven to bring things around when men place themselves in his hand. “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” Ps. 37: 5.

Brother W. H. Goodwin, of Santa Cruz, Cal., reports that himself and wife have been engaged in Christian help work in that city since November 1, and find all that they can do. The same might be said in any city, if there were laborers willing to do the work. It is an employment which, if faithfully followed, will never know what is meant in ordinary business a “dull season.” The Saviour says, “Ye have the poor with you alway, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good.”

The Review of the 4th inst. contains a striking report from Brother E. L. Sanford. He held meetings two weeks at New Light, N. C., when seventeen adults and nine children took their stand on the truth as presented by him. This success stirred up the opposition to such an extent that threats were made against him, and when he returned to the place again, two shots were fired through the window into the room where he was sleeping. The excitement created in the neighborhood by this occurrence brought many out to hear him preach who would not come before.

The attention of true Christians is being more and more attracted to the work of helping the needy. Brother A. E. Place, president of New York Conference, in a report of his rounds in the Indicator, incidentally mentions that in Newburgh “the missionary spirit is taking possession of our good sisters to an encouraging degree, and as they go among the sick and afflicted, bearing evidence that the ‘love of Christ constraineth’ them, they report that a new joy lights up their life. This is so because they have been a means of lighting other lives, which, perhaps, were almost gone out in spiritual darkness. This line of work proves in every case to be a potent germicide to all microbes of selfishness.”