OUR WORK AND WORKERS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 6, 1898

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

At Temple, Clare County, Mich., December 12, a church of ten members was organized by Brother W. R. Matthews.

Brother P. L. Hoen, who is laboring among the Scandinavians in Michigan, reports accessions at South Frankfort and Manistee.

General meetings for Montana are announced for the present month, as follows: Great Falls, 3–8; Helena, 10–15; Missoula, 17–22; Bozeman, 24–29.

In the West Indies and adjoining islands there are about eight hundred Christian people who observe the Sabbath “according to the commandment.”

Of the cause in Jamaica, Brother C. A. Hall says: “The work is going rapidly despite the obstacles in the way. Every element of heathenism, save ferocity, is to be met.”

At Springfield, Ohio, Thanksgiving day, two sisters gave a dinner to sixty-six little urchins, besides sending out thirty baskets of groceries, etc., to poor families.

Brother J. F. Ballenger writes from London, Ontario, to Field Echoes that “the truth is working like heaven. . . . The health food manufacturing enterprise is a success. The grocers and doctors are doing all they can to encourage the sale of these foods.”

Brother W. T. Knox, president of California Conference, returned on the 24th inst., from the council of conference presidents and representatives of the Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association at Chicago. Plans were recommended by the council for co-operative labor on the lines of medical missionary and Christian help work, now commanding the attention of our brethren, especially in the larger cities.

The Minnesota Worker says: “The librarian at Stewartville, with her husband, is working for the street boys. They gather them in and give them a pleasant evening once a week, and try to instruct and help them.”

Any one who has a house can do likewise, and—

“O, the good we all may do, While the days are going by!”

The first public meeting ever held by our people in Swansea, Wales, was held November 15 last, by Brethren E. J. Waggoner and J. S. Washburn. Most of those in attendance, however, had been readers of Present Truth. There were so many questions asked that it was necessary to continue some time after the meeting proper had been dismissed.

Brother F. L. Moody reports as partial results of meetings held at Birmingham, Iowa, that twelve adults have decided to obey the commandments of God. The Sabbath-school numbers thirty-five. The schoolhouse where his meetings were being held was about to be closed against him, but the directors of an adjoining district were anxious to have him occupy their house. So “all things work together for good to them that love God.”

Brother J. H. Durland, president of Michigan Conference, makes this call: “We want one hundred and fifty men and women to sell our books in the State of Michigan. We want fifty men and women to sell our books in the province of Ontario. We do not want persons who can not endure hardships. We do not want those who only desire to make money. But we do want men and women who are not afraid to work ten hours a day if necessary, and who have the missionary spirit.”

We hear of special manifestations of the Spirit of the Lord in connection with our institutions, which indicate that they are of His planting, and that He is anxious to work through them. In reporting recent district conference at South Lancaster, Mass., to the Indicator, Brother A. E. Place, president of New York Conference, says that one Sunday evening, at the close of a preaching service, “nearly one hundred came forward for prayers. A large number of these were students from the academy. Several came seeking God for the first time. As I saw these dear souls, with tender hearts, coming to the front to seek forgiveness of sins, some of them small boys and girls, the thought came to me, What would this sight be worth to their parents who are here and there through this district? Fathers and mothers, God hears your prayers and counts your tears for your children. Angels of God are working for their salvation. Angels are standing by the side of teachers in the school, working through them to lead souls to Christ.”

In a report in the Kansas Worker, by Brother G. G. Rupert, we note these items: At Liberal, Sister Rupert took forty orders for the SIGNS. At Preston, four persons were baptized and a club of SIGNS ordered. At Lawndale, one was added to the church. At Eldorado, seventy-five subscribers were secured for the SIGNS and nine were added to the church. To this he adds, “There are openings ahead, and most earnest appeals for labor.”

Brother O. O. Farnsworth is now laboring in the island of Trinidad, in company with Brother E. W. Webster. By private sources we learn that the yellow fever is epidemic, and all our brethren are at present quarantined. With this comes the sad news of the death of Sister Webster from the yellow plague, wife of Brother E. W. Webster. He has our heartfelt sympathy, and we pray God to give him the needed grace. In a little while and there will be no more death.

The Missionary Magazine (a continuation of the Home Missionary) is out in popular magazine form and is issued from the office of the Seventh-day Adventist Foreign Mission Board, 1730 N. Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia. The January number is filled with live missionary matter, of interest to all who love to see the Gospel of the kingdom going to all nations. J. E. Jayne, secretary of the board, is editor, and L. T. Nicola is associate editor. The new magazine is issued monthly, at 25 cents a year; to foreign countries, 50 cents.

Brother Frank Richards arrived in this city from Chicago on the 23d ult., for the purpose of inaugurating rescue mission work here or in San Francisco, or in both places. In connection with conference officers and other leading brethren he is looking over the ground and preparing for active work at once. On Sunday evening, the 26th ult., Brother Richards spoke to an enthusiastic audience in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in this city, and there is a quite general determination to support the enterprise in every possible way. In fact, it was because of the desire of this church and the publishers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to inaugurate such a work that Brother Richards was invited to come to the coast. He has made a success of this kind of work in Chicago, and comes to this field fresh from victorious efforts in behalf of the fallen. There were various other openings before him, but he decided to give these cities the benefit of his practical experience. The spirit of this work is moving upon our brethren in other cities, as they realize that increasing poverty calls for more urgent efforts for the relief of the suffering.