Our Work and Workers

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 34.

Our Work and Workers.

Elder C. McReynolds has returned to Texas, and has been elected president of the conference, a position he held several years ago.

At Hornellsville, N. Y., three converts are reported by Brother John S. Wightman, and a promising field is seen where but recently this way had not a single representative. A tent meeting is to follow this introduction.

Elder D. T. Sherman reports a very encouraging interest in tent meetings held in a country place in Wake County, N. C. The work was begun by holding meetings in private houses, but the attendance increased until it became necessary to erect a 50-foot tent.

Young people, and old people who have little or nothing to do, you can go out and make some money for yourselves and the cause between now and the holidays by selling those beautiful and useful books, “His Glorious Appearing,” “Christ Our Saviour,” “Mount of Blessing,” and “Gospel Primer.”

When a man is willing to be guided in the way of truth, he will discern light very readily. A brother is now doing missionary work in North Carolina who but recently was led to embrace the views of Seventh-day Adventists by reading a stray copy of the American Sentinel which some one had dropped by the wayside.

Recently a canvasser in Rosario, the second largest city in Argentina, found two families of Sabbath-keepers who hitherto had been unknown to any of our people. Thus we see that God is able to raise up standard-bearing witnesses to his truth in any quarter of the world, and we know not how many he may have in isolated places.

Elder A. E. Place, whose severe illness was noted some weeks ago, has so far recovered as to be able to resume his duties as president of the New York conference. During his convalescent state he made a journey westward as far as Boulder, Colorado, at which place our excellent sanitarium has become a noted Mecca for invalid pilgrims.

A report from Elder E. H. Gates announces that medical work has been commenced in Honolulu, H. I., by Dr. S. P. Kellogg, who recently went to the islands from Michigan, accompanied by Brother and Sister Lingel, experienced nurses. He says that prominent men have offered sanitarium sites out of the city, but it was thought best to begin work in the city, and thus take time to study more fully the matter of a sanitarium.

We have read an encouraging report concerning missionary work in Sioux City, Iowa. Of those who worked especially to earn money for the cause, it is stated that “one blind brother made hammocks, and a crippled sister made lace.” Also that the children sell the SIGNS. It is good to see the lame and the blind, the old and the young, interested in spreading the good news of the kingdom of God, which is soon to come.

The International Tract Society has eight numbers of the “Words of Truth Series” of leaflets. Each number contains four pages, size of Apples of Gold tracts. Price, 35 cents per hundred. The eight numbers are entitled as follows: No. 1, “Change of the Sabbath;” No. 2, “The Law of God;” No. 3, “Claims of Sunday Sacredness;” No. 4, “The Millennium;” No. 5, “The Sabbath;” No. 6, “The Nature of Man;” No. 7, “The Wages of Sin;” No. 8, “The Coming of the Lord.”

At Fredrikstad, Norway, where a general meeting was recently held, the brethren have purchased a meeting-house with a seating capacity of about three hundred. It is said that this house is “literally built upon a rock, which rises several feet above the ground.” During the meeting three brethren were ordained to the ministry. Some laborers were present from the far north Hammerfest and Vardö, and one from Iceland. This brother has translated some of our works into the Icelandic language for publication. The Norway conference now numbers twelve churches, and maintains three schools for children.

A brother in England says: “One of my subscribers to Present Truth has been sending out the papers to her son at St. Petersburg, Russia, who is doing some work at the czar’s palace. He received the paper for June 4, but part of the front page was cut out, and part of the last page was blacked over with ink. He has sent to his mother asking her to send him a copy of what was cut out. In looking it up I find that it is the article upon the ‘Coronation Scenes,’ and the article about those 5,000 Russian Christians having to leave their homes because they refuse to carry arms. Tho these little articles do not reach their destination, one good thing is the officials who blot these things out have the truth set before them. Let us pray that the seed will bring forth fruit.”

We have just received the “Third Annual Calendar of the Keene Industrial Academy,” for 1896–97. This institution is located at Keene (near Cleburne), Johnson County, Texas. The calendar is neatly printed, giving views of the three principal buildings—the Home, the Academy Hall, and the Assembly Hall. The courses of study have been outlined with special reference to the preparation of laborers for Christian work, and they have been made as short as seemed to be consistent with thoroughness. It is the purpose of the institution to do more for its students than merely to make them proficient in certain lines of study. The object sought is to develop and train every part of the being—physical, mental, and moral. The academy provides four courses of study: A Ministers’ Course of four years; an Academic Course of four years; a Christian Workers’ Course of two years; and a Preparatory Course of two years. It is designed to make the Ministers’ Course thoroughly helpful and practical. In all the departments eighteen hours a week of physical labor are required, for which a liberal compensation is allowed. Those who work by the hour will be paid according to their ability, the highest price being ten cents per hour. Young ladies are allowed an average of five cents per hour. Gentlemen will be paid sixty cents per tier for cutting sixteen-inch stove wood. For catalog, or special information, address, Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Texas.