THE BRITISH FIELD by Ole A. Olsen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1902

THE BRITISH FIELD.

By Ole A. Olsen

WE are glad to report some progress in the work. Our new magazine, Good Health, the first number of which was issued last November, is meeting a most cordial reception. The public are showing a deep interest in the health principles, and our own people are doing their best to secure for the magazine a wide circulation. We printed thirty thousand copies of the February number.

During the same time the circulation of Present Truth has also made considerable progress. The weekly issue is now nearly twenty thousand copies. However, we shall not stop here, but continue to increase our efforts for a much wider circulation. The Present Truth ought now to go to fifty thousand homes every week.

A most important advance move in this Conference was the opening of a missionary training school on Monday, Jan. 6, 1902. The brethren here have long felt the need of such an institution. It ought to have been started before; but we are glad that a beginning has been made. On the day of the opening, twenty students presented themselves, and at this writing the enrollment is thirty-six. The opening of the school was marked by the presence of the Spirit of God, and, best of all, this manifest presence continues with the school in its daily work.

The British Conference is thankful to the General Conference and the Mission Board for the interest manifested, and the assistance rendered the work in this field; and while we appreciate this for the past, we must say that we shall need more help for the future. We do not say this with a view to excuse ourselves from any responsibility. No, far from it! We are glad to say that there is increasing activity manifested by our people to advance the message, both in active work, and also in contributing of their means. And this is as it should be. But with all this, the largeness and importance

of this field call both for more men and for more means than can be produced here at present. However, we are of good courage, and rejoice in what we see and experience of the Lord’s blessing day by day. We fully expect that He will do more than we can even ask or think.

The reports from the workers are encouraging. Recently seven persons were baptized at Bath, fifteen at Swansea, nine at Cardiff, seven at Liverpool, and just now we receive the report that twenty-two were baptized at Southampton. Brother H. Armstrong has gone to Glasgow to open the work there. This is the first time that a minister has gone to Scotland to begin permanent work. May the Lord greatly bless this undertaking to the rapid advancement of the message. Brother W. H. Meredith has just secured a portable tabernacle for the work in Wales. Aside from a few canvassers, he is the only laborer in that needy field. One minister for Scotland, one for Wales, and only one for Ireland! Surely the harvest is great, and the laborers are few. The most distressing part of our experience is our inability to send ministerial help in response to many urgent calls that come to us. And when we realize that we are living in the very last days, this situation becomes all the more serious. We earnestly pray that God will send faithful laborers and means to carry forward the work.

There is an urgent call for a health home or a suite of treatment rooms. Some effort has been made to find a suitable location for one or the other, but as yet nothing has been decided upon. We are also beginning to look for a permanent location for our school, which is now being held at Duncombe Hall, North London. These are important matters, concerning which no mistake should be made. We earnestly pray that God may give wisdom to His servants, and himself clearly indicate the proper places for the headquarters of the several departments of the work.

O. A. OLSEN.