p. 608 | ONTARIO by J. W. Collie

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 17, 1901

ONTARIO

By J. W. Collie

THE Canadian field is understood by many, especially in the States, as being a barren country away up among the frozen regions, when in fact it is a great country with great possibilities before it. We shall speak of Ontario, which is the most populous and important of the provinces, by way of comparison with other places more fully understood.

Ontario has an area of 220,000 square miles; and is larger than the following States of the Union put together: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana, Vermont, Delaware, District of Columbia, Rhode Island, nearly 12,000 square miles being left for good measure.

This territory is occupied by prosperous cities and towns, with rich farming lands on every hand, and the people are known to be frugal and thrifty. Toronto, the chief city, has a population of over 200,000, and besides this there are the cities of Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville, Windsor, St. Thomas, and Guelph. These cities, with a combined population of 450,000 people, have in them only two Bible workers, and we are certainly justified in saying that we can sound the Macedonian cry, “Come over . . . and help us.”

It is true that the people are rather conservative; but when they decide to obey, they usually “stick.” Ontario should have ten laborers for every one she now has; and they would find a field already white to the harvest, and souls ready to be gathered in.

Who will respond with their means to advance the message, or who will consecrate themselves to help carry forward this most precious truth, so that the work can be finished, and the Lord can come? May the Lord influence hearts to respond to the need of the times, and may such earnestness and devotion characterize every one that the power of God may be manifest in the salvation of many.

J. W. COLLIE.