HOME AGAIN by B. L. Howe

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 24, 1901

HOME AGAIN.

By B. L. Howe

AUGUST 7 I landed in Honolulu, after an absence of nearly five months, during which time I attended the General Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., and the camp-meetings at Waitsburg, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; and Oakland, Cal. These meetings were seasons of great blessing and profit to me. At the camp-meetings I labored with the young people, and enjoyed it very much. A goodly number of these young people were converted, and those who had already entered the Christian life were encouraged and helped on in the way.

Just before leaving California, we received encouragement in a very substantial manner from some of the good brethren, in the form of an offering of two hundred and twenty-five dollars for the island work.

The voyage from San Francisco, by the Oceanic Steamship “Sierra,” was delightful. Every one seemed to be happy and satisfied. Considering the exceeding kindness with which the stewards and waiters looked after every comfort of the passengers, one who would find fault would be hard, indeed, to please.

I had a supply of the War and Wealth number of the Signs with me, and on Sunday morning I distributed them among the passengers. For some time the deck had the appearance of a Signs’ reading-room. By request of the passengers, I spoke for a few minutes in the evening on James 5, using the strikes as an illustration.

It was a great pleasure to be again with my loved ones, and greet the friends who had come to the wharf to welcome me home. My heart is greatly cheered to see the increase of numbers in the Sabbath-school and the growing interest with which each one takes hold to do the part assigned him. Mrs. Howe has a number of interested readers, and some of them are under deep conviction. One is keeping the Sabbath.

Since returning, I have employed most of my time in house-to-house work. We have held no public meetings except on Sabbath. During the last two weeks I have spoken twice at the Peniel Mission tent, by request.

As we mingle with the people, we find many who are much exercised in regard to the things that are occurring day by day. We have gone out in companies of from three to five, with papers and small books, and have had good success in selling. The people are especially interested in the War and Wealth number of the Signs.

The attention of one of our sisters, while selling the Signs, was called to a little incident which, though small in itself, shows how lasting are the effects of kind words and acts. The paper was presented to a lady, and when she noticed that it was published at the Pacific Press, she said: “Yes, I want that. I like those people, they were so good to my little brother when he was there. He was only a little fellow, running errands, but every one was so kind to him, and when the Fourth of July came, they gave him a dollar to spend for fireworks.”

The great strike in San Francisco, which has effectually tied things up on the water front, is beginning to be felt here in the scarcity of some necessary articles, and a corresponding rise in their price. Unless the blockade is broken soon, there will be suffering, as we depend on the San Francisco market for our supplies.

The Christian’s hope never was so precious as it is now, when the whole world seems to be seeking its own destruction. Pray for the honest in heart here, that they may receive the word of God, and be saved in the day of famine foretold by the shepherd prophet.

B. L. Howe.