OUR WORK AND WORKERS by M. C. W.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 18, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 11.

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By M. C. W.

Conference Notes.

Since our last writing but little practical work has been done in the Conference. Committees are at work faithfully, and Bible study is carried on as usual. There have been special meetings of seeking the Lord, and blessing has been experienced as always at meetings where God is truly sought.

Among the interesting preliminary meetings which we have had, are those of the report of the religious liberty work, the report of the foreign mission secretary, and the educational work. These three we will mention in these notes.

Religious Liberty.—Brief reports were given of the religious liberty work, by Allen Moon, the president; and A. F. Ballenger, secretary. The object of the International Religious Liberty Association was stated, that of disseminating the truth as respecting this question, and of caring for families who have been deprived of their liberty by persecution. It was stated that seventy-six Christian Sabbath-keepers had been arrested during the last two years, thirty of whom had been convicted and had served terms of imprisonment aggregating in all 1,144 days. This does not take into account the period of incarceration awaiting bonds or trial. This probably would aggregate 100 days more. In his work in Washington he found that there had been a notable increase in sentiment in favor of religious liberty on the part of many who had become intelligent in reference to the subject, and yet on the other hand there were those who were honestly and sincerely yet blindly working for that which would deprive conscientious citizens of their liberty. Fuller reports may be given of this at another time. Membership fees and donations were given by those present to the amount of nearly $100.

Foreign Missions.—Among the interesting things presented, was the report of the foreign mission secretary. He gave but a brief survey of our older mission fields in Europe, leaving the details of the work there to be presented by the representatives from those fields. The report showed, however, that the number of Sabbath-keepers in Europe are as follows: Central European Conference, 501; Germany, 886, having an increase during the last two years of 518; Russia, 684, an increase of 217 over 1895. The membership of Scandinavia is 1,662; and that of England, 447. In these last two fields there has been an increase of 300. In the Australasian Conference there are 1,571 members.

The amount of tithes in our foreign mission fields during the past two years, has been augmented by $9,491.

In Mexico the work is carried on through medical missionary work. During the past year there have been 2,000 cases of charity treatment, and 300 cases treated of the wealthier class, who paid for treatment received. The mission school there numbers thirty-three pupils. A sanatorium building is in progress, which it will take $9,000 to finish.

Strong appeals were made in behalf of the South American mission field, with its 40,000,000, among whom we have less than two dozen workers, and yet those who do labor there have met with success. Among the Carib and Arawack Indians of British Guiana, there has been a church of twenty organized, and these have built themselves a chapel. There are also in the same colony a half dozen lepers, who have accepted the Sabbath truth. These desire baptism and arrangements made so that they can celebrate the ordinances of the Lord’s house.

The work is making rapid progress in both Chile and Argentina. In Chile there are now seventy believers, who have been raised up almost wholly within the last two years. In Argentina the work is carried on in English, German, Spanish, Scandinavian and French.

Touching, indeed, was the report from Matabeleland and the Gold Coast. Our missionaries who are in Matabeleland, after having journeyed 600 miles by the slow process of bullock wagon, taking six weeks, passing through fever-infested districts, had hardly got settled and well to work when the Matabele war broke out. Of course they left their mud huts, which they had built, and placed themselves under the protection of the Settlement and the English troops. This was really demanded. But they found after the war was over, a worse foe than the rebellious natives. Famine broke out. On returning to their mud huts, they found that the natives had not injured them in any way, as they had those of others. In fact they found that the warlike natives had committed no depredations whatever, other than to take food or something necessary to sustain life. But food was scarce. Flour was selling for twenty-five cents a pound and corn nearly as high. The natives themselves, whom they had left on the mission farm, were famishing, and two of our missionaries had adopted twelve of the native boys, to save their lives. Others are still in need, and they appeal to our brethren and sisters in America for funds to help. It does seem as though their appeals would be abundantly met.

On the Gold Coast a worse foe than savage, warlike negroes must be met, that of the deadly fever miasma, which has cut off so many lives of the white people, who have gone there for the various purposes of worldly gain and the saving of souls. And yet those who are there are of good courage and are pushing forward the work, and are erecting a building some miles from the coast, where they think it will be more healthful.

Japan, China and India were also mentioned. In the first of these countries we have two missionaries, Professor Grainger and Brother Okohira. In India we have two sisters engaged in zenana work and teaching, and one minister, Elder D. A. Robinson. In China we have but one ship missionary as yet.

Ten ministers are called for, for Central America, British Guiana, United States of Colombia, Argentina, Trinidad, Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Newfoundland, Matabeleland.

Physicians and nurses are wanted in Central America, Colombia, Argentina, Matabeleland, Mexico, and Newfoundland.

Other workers are desired for Honolulu, the Bay Islands, Mexico, Interior of Africa, India and Polynesia.

All of these demands reveal to us more eloquently than words can reveal, the enlarging of our work, and the demands that are made on the missionary spirit of our people. There are many other fields in the regions beyond where are precious souls crying to us, “Come over and help us.” We are sure that there will be hearts that will respond to this Macedonian cry from every quarter, “Here am I, Lord, send me.”

Educational Work.—Heretofore the educational work of the denomination has been presented by the general educational secretary, but as representatives of nearly all the schools were present, brief reports, mostly verbal, were presented by them, the educational secretary merely introducing the subject by a few preliminary, well-chosen words. The reports came in, in order of the age of the institutions, beginning with Battle Creek College. For this Prof. G. W. Caviness reported. He stated that among the workers in the various branches of the great field, 425 had received some training in Battle Creek College, among these were 130 ministers. Others had changed their names since attending school and could not be traced. The present enrollment was 500, of which 100 were in the College Home. Prof. J. H. Haughey reported for South Lancaster (Mass.) Academy, having an enrollment of 137. Prof. F. W. Howe reported for Healdsburg (Cal.) College, the enrollment of students of which is 172. For Union College, College View, Neb., Prof. E. B. Miller reported. He gave the present term enrollment at 260. Prof. E. A. Sutherland spoke for Walla Walla (Wash.) College. The present enrollment is 235. Professor Longhead spoke in behalf of Mt. Vernon (Ohio) Academy, having 100 enrollment. Dr. J. C. Ottosen, of Denmark, represented the school in that country at Frederikshavn. The school is but small, having an attendance of only 34. The Keene (Texas) Academy and Industrial School was represented by Prof. C. B. Hughes. Its enrollment is about 100. The last schools having representatives at this meeting, were the Academy at Graysville, Tenn., and the Industrial Colored School at Huntsville, Ala. Appeal was made in behalf of these by Prof. W. T. Bland. Claremont College in South Africa, the Industrial School near Sydney, Australia, and other smaller schools in mission fields were not represented at this meeting, but will be spoken of elsewhere.

All the reports and informal talks given, showed marked progress during the last year in the educational work. It revealed the encouraging and important fact that our schools were getting down to Gospel principles of education. The worldly, pagan idea was well set forth by one of the speakers somewhat as follows: God’s idea of education is to study God, his truth in his Word and Nature, so that it becomes a part of the very being and renews the mind. Study man, but study about God and his truth, was the plan of the adversary, which the world had followed. This was the central object around which the discussion revolved.

All these schools, we believe, were using a vegetarian diet, and reported good health in the schools. The industrial problem also excited interest, and is a most important one to consider. It will not only help to solve the financial problem of some of our schools, but will also be beneficial in preserving the moral and physical health of the young who are taught at these centers. May God bless our teachers and make all our institutions of learning like the schools of the prophets of old! M. C. W.