In the Field by S. H. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 3, 1902

In the Field

By S. H. Lane

In visiting some of the churches in southeastern Kansas in the interests of the Missionary Acre Fund, I find them extremely anxious to listen to the word. They also make earnest efforts to get their friends and neighbors to attend the meetings, and at each place I have spoken not only to our own people, but to quite a number not of our faith. I present our missionary work, and the interest manifested is really wonderful. When I explain the work that is being done by our sanitariums and missions, and how our medical school is graduating doctors and nurses to fill our numerous sanitariums, and to go to foreign lands and work by the side of our ministers in those places where heathenism holds supreme sway, and aid the poor natives physically, socially, and spiritually, the congregations are moved to tears, and the next meeting marks an increase in the attendance. On several occasions when I presented the matter of gardening and farming to aid the good work, some not of our faith donated either money or produce; and as I bade them farewell, some said, “I have enjoyed your sermon very much; come again.”

At Iola, Brother J. M. Jones, who is conducting a tailor shop in the city, with his family gave me a hearty welcome. They accepted the truth many years ago when I was laboring in Indiana. The church has a comfortable meeting house, and it was well filled each evening, as I visited them during the week. Nearly every one gave something toward the Missionary Acre Fund.

On Sabbath and First-day, May 3, 4, meetings were held at Thayer. The company have just erected a new meeting house. This place is the home of Elder D. H. Oberholtzer, formerly of Indiana, who first heard the message in the summer of 1870, during the first year of the labor of my brother and myself in Indiana. The meetings were well attended, and much interest was manifested. Elder Oberholtzer’s home is truly an orphanage and a hospital. For the last six years, Brother and Sister Oberholtzer have had in their family from five to ten orphans. They would have taken more, but lacked room. They have found homes for some, and many of the older ones are now earning their own living. One is a graduated nurse, and is now doing efficient work for the Master. They now have five in their family. Two little boys and one little girl are from one family. Brother Oberholtzer found them just as the authorities of the county were going to take them to the county poor farm. When Brother and Sister Oberholtzer consented to take these fatherless children, for the mother was in such poor health that she could not support them, the officers gave their consent, and left the house. These children are happy, and have been taught to work; it is a beautiful sight to mark their industrious habits. When the Missionary Acre Fund was introduced, the members of the church took hold of the matter nobly, and the orphans pledged some fowls and the proceeds of an acre of castor beans. They watched the developments of the chickens and the growth of the beans with a commendable degree of missionary interest. The children were encouraged to plant the beans, as they could do nearly all the work of production except the plowing of the ground.

May 5 and 6, in connection with Elder Oberholtzer, I visited the Moline church. Here we held meetings each afternoon and evening. At each meeting the congregation increased, and at the last, four ministers, all there were living in the town, were present. They became much interested in our missionary work. Nearly all our brethren and sisters gave something toward the Missionary Acre Fund, although there is not a farmer among them.

May 7 and 8 we held meetings at Elk City, both in the afternoons and evenings, which were well attended. Here the donations of fowls and gardens and the money pledges were liberal.

Sabbath, May 10, our meetings at the city of Independence were well attended. The members of this church are scattered for miles through the country, and some drove nearly twenty miles to attend the meetings. The services were held in the United Brethren’s meeting house. We spoke all day on the missionary work. Some liberal donations were made, but more would have been given if we could have spent more time with them.

First-day, May 11, we held three meetings with the Cherry Vale church. They hold their services in a rented room. Our meetings were excellent. Elder Oberholtzer spoke in the forenoon, and I in the afternoon and evening. One person united with the church. The attendance in the evening was large. Here, as at other places, nearly every one pledged something for the acre fund. Even the children from five to ten years old either gave a few cents or pledged to do so.

We are encouraging all to aid the cause in all its branches. If all would constantly donate something, soon a stream of means would flow into the Lord’s treasury which would enable the truth to be spread everywhere, and the whole earth be watered with the dews of God’s grace.

S. H. LANE.