THE WORK IN GREATER NEW YORK.
By Stephen N. Haskell
Since our former report of the work in New York, many changes have taken place, and the providences of God have been more and more marked. It is evident that God is not working merely in one locality in Greater New York, but opportunities for doing good are presenting themselves in different grades of society; calls are coming from the highways and byways as well as from the hedges of this wicked city. Some of our workers who were sent from different State Conferences for a six months’ training, have returned to their States, and others have come here. We enter upon the work at the beginning of this new year with a larger force of workers than we have had at any previous time. During the changes, we pleaded with the Lord to send those who had a burden for souls, and would not be satisfied unless they saw fruit developing from their labors. At present our company of workers consists of two ordained ministers, two doctors, including Dr. Bryant, of Brooklyn, who comes over one day each week, five experienced Bible workers, four inexperienced Bible workers, one canvasser, two nurses, and two who do colporteur work. We expect two others to join our family soon. These will enter the Bible work. There is no limit to the opportunities for consecrated and energetic workers. Two halls are now occupied by laborers,—one by Elder Franke,—besides the one that we have on Fifty-ninth Street. Several have made a start in the service of God from our efforts on Fifty-ninth Street, in the hall which we believe came to us in answer to prayer. We have also opened a work on Sixty-second Street among the colored people, in one of the most disreputable44portions of the city. This is in charge of a brother who has accepted the message since we came here last July, and who was formerly a Baptist minister. He is now in the employ of this Conference. So there are omens of good in all directions, and a blending of Jew and Gentile, bond and free, in Christ Jesus. Besides all these, we have self-supporting missionaries on the plan of the Waldenses. The health and temperance movement has truly proved to be as the right hand to the body, and has received more attention of late, with marked success. It has opened the door for us to reach many people. Through this means an open door has also presented itself among the Jewish people in New York City. At the first meeting, about five hundred Jews were present, and an unusual interest was taken in the subject presented. We trust that it will prove a great blessing to the Hebrew race. Dr. Geisel will give a series of six lectures to these people. She has been working to educate our own people of Greater New York in health and temperance principles, besides doing other work in various parts of the city. Sister Evora Perkins has been holding a cooking class two days in each week, in the Metropolitan Lyceum, which is the hall we occupy, and Dr. Geisel has spoken to the class and to those who could attend Sunday afternoons. During the week of prayer, meetings were held every afternoon with the company that meets at the New York church (No. 3), while others held meetings in different parts of the city. The Spirit of God was manifested, and the meetings were full of interest. The collection in this church for foreign missions was one hundred and ninety-two dollars, besides jewelry, which has since been sold for one hundred and five dollars. It was thought advisable to demonstrate the error of the objection so often made, that it is too expensive for poor people to use health-reform foods. So on New Year’s day a union meeting was held in our hall, and a vegetarian dinner was served to over two hundred of our people. It was a simple meal of three courses, such as may be prepared in any home by one who understands vegetarian cooking. Donations of flowers were received from several florists in the city, and the tables were tastefully decorated with them. The whole cost of the dinner averaged only ten cents for each person, which proved conclusively that God’s bill of fare is cheaper as well as better than a flesh diet. The expense of the dinner was met by donations. The services of the day consisted of a brief statement, in the morning at ten o’clock, of our work, its rise, and the importance of a reconsideration for the new year, which was followed by several short talks on appropriate themes; then came the dinner. In the afternoon there was a spirited address by Dr. Geisel, in which she mentioned the moderate expense of the dinner, showing how certain animals have lived more in harmony with God’s original diet for them than man has, and that while God so cared for animals, we ought not to take their lives for food. A testimony which had just been received from Sister White, concerning the work in New York City, was read, and the services closed with a social meeting. All returned to their homes feeling that it had been a pleasant, profitable day. GREATER NEW YORK CONFERENCE.
What was formerly known as the Atlantic Conference has been divided, and Greater New York made a separate Conference. This was an important change. It is designed that the Greater New York Conference shall be more of a training-school to prepare workers to go out and do practical missionary work in all parts of the world,—that it shall be more of an educational mission field than Conferences usually are. Its interest will be a general interest,—and we now have in contemplation many other changes. A school is already called for; and when a proper teacher can be found, we hope to open a school in this city for the children of our brethren and sisters. Steps will also be taken to start a school outside of the congested center. It is needless to add that the visit of Sister White to Greater New York has not only contributed largely to the increasing interest of the work in all its branches in this city, and assisted greatly in bringing about the various changes, but it has given a permanency to the work which the visit of no other person could have done. Truly the Spirit of God was with the testimonies borne, and the word accomplished the purpose for which it was sent; victories were gained, and plans laid, which will result in a far greater development of the work than could have been secured by the united efforts of our brethren and sisters without the living testimony from God’s servant. There are opportunities at the present time to present the message to the ministers of the various denominations in New York City, and also to the Young Men’s Christian Association, in which Elder Warren has been working. We trust the seed thus sown will bear a bountiful harvest. Making the Greater New York Conference more of a training-school, will call for workers and donations of means from all parts of the field, as heretofore. There is no reason why the Scandinavian element should not largely sustain the Scandinavian work, and the German element the German work, on the principle of self-supporting work, voluntary donations, sales of publications, and the increase in this field, and the donations coming in from various parts of the country to the different nationalities. The field is one, the general interests of the work are one, and the people should be heart and soul united for the development of laborers. Nearly one half of the population of Greater New York, including Jersey City, is German and Scandinavian. Brother and Sister Reinke are working among the Germans, and the providence of God has enabled them to secure a hall in Brooklyn. We hope soon to have some one devoting his whole time to the Scandinavian work. The printing of a paper is contemplated—The New York Training School, giving a synopsis of the Bible studies that are given to the workers, for the benefit of our brethren elsewhere, and also giving items of general interest concerning our work. We ask for the special prayers of our people that God may prosper the work, and that His purpose may be accomplished in this great metropolis.