GEO. B. STARR by George B. Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1902

GEO. B. STARR

By George B. Starr

Australia

BALLARAT.—We have a new plan for our weekly tract society meetings, one that gives promise of arousing and maintaining a greater interest. It is this: to gather out the cream from our American journals and papers that come every month, and bring it into the missionary meeting each week. One week is devoted to extracts from the REVIEW AND HERALD, and a committee of two is appointed to make selections and choose readers for that night. Another week is devoted to the health topic, with extracts from all the health journals; another committee is appointed to look after this night. Another week is devoted to the Life Boat and similar mission work; and another to the missionary reports, the cream of which, we think, will keep our people in touch with the work throughout the world. As soon as this plan was introduced, there was a marked increase in the attendance.

The Lord gave us a precious experience in the life-saving work one week ago. While the meeting was in progress on Sabbath afternoon at our church on Humphry Street, a young man walked in, so intoxicated that he hardly knew where he was; but when he did sense his situation, he fell upon his knees and began to pray. He asked us to pray for him, which we did. After meeting, we learned that he was a Swiss, thirty-one years of age, and had come from Toowoomba, Queensland. He had lost, through death, his intended, and to drown his sorrows had foolishly given himself to drink. He speaks French and German, and is a piano tuner and violin teacher. As he was out of funds, Brother Crick took him to his room, and shared his bed with him; we have helped in providing his food. He has

discarded tea, coffee, tobacco, liquor, and flesh meat all at once, and has had one good week. He seems happy, and says that by the grace of God he will never touch drink again, and that he will live henceforth for God. As he was once a Christian, he knows the joy of trusting Jesus. He is observing the Sabbath, and says that the Sabbath truth looks very clear to him. He is finding work. We hope he may stand.