p. 506 | The Missionary by Stephen N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 20, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 32.

The Missionary.

By Stephen N. Haskell

The Cause in Australia.

It has now been one month since we reached Australia, and two months since we left San Francisco. We have availed ourselves of every source of information that we could, to learn about the country and the customs of the people. Our object has been to understand the best methods of labor in beginning the work here. Arriving in the midst of winter, and it being an unusually rainy season, there seemed to be but little else that we could do. As soon as we located, Brethren Scott and Israel commenced colporter work, and holding Bible-readings. Thus far success has attended their efforts as much as could be expected. It is a kind of labor that is appreciated among the common people and will give access to their hearts.

There is not that personal independence among the people here that there is in America, therefore it will be harder for them to take their stand when an unpopular truth shall demand it. When these islands began to be settled, foreign missionaries also came. These very naturally have a strong influence over the people, therefore any new doctrine that might be brought in is thought to be an intrusion upon their rights. When the Pilgrim Fathers first came to America, they had in view freedom of conscience. They desired to establish a religion without a pope, and a nation without a king. But when men departed from the ideas which they brought with them from their mother country, it was something that they did not appreciate. They did not receive new doctrines very readily. When one of their members thought that the Bible taught immersion for baptism and commenced to practice the same, he was banished to the western part of Massachusetts. There he would have frozen to death had not the providence of God favored him and his party. This was carrying out their free spirit according to their ideas. Unfortunately this seems to be the spirit that characterizes reformers, when they become established in their own ideas and ways.

But as long as the people regard the Scriptures as the highest authority, there is hope that God will still work for them. In these colonies this spirit seems to prevail. Here the Bible is a sacred book. It is the only book that we can rely on as a sure guide in these last days of peril. There is another feature of this people that is certainly commendable. As a whole, they are the greatest readers of any people in the world. Their free library in Melbourne ranks among the first in all the countries of the world. It is patronized by over one thousand readers a day. There are also many papers published here, and they too are extensively read.

The labor which has already been put forth has awakened in some an interest to read and to investigate the truth. When we arrived here, we found two that were keeping the Sabbath. We have already become quite well known in the suburban towns and in some parts of the city. Subscribers could be more readily obtained for a paper published here, than for one that is published in a foreign country. But it does not seem to be so with bound books. The people have a desire to read that which is published in other countries. They are anxious to obtain other people's ideas. In all of the principal towns in this country there are libraries, and books placed in them are sure to be read. They do not ask the question, "Have any of the rulers believed on him?" but, practically, it is the sentiment expressed in the action of many. The influence of leading men has much to do with the sentiment and feelings of the people. The longer we remain here the more interested we become, to see the work established in these colonies. We have no doubt

but that God has a people here, and when they once take their stand they will be as firm and ardent in their faith as those in any other part of the world. This is characteristic of the people. The English are warm-hearted and possess an ardor that is truly commendable. Already a goodly number of publications have been sold, and some subscriptions have been secured for the Signs of the Times. But the inquiry is everywhere raised, "Why do you not publish here?" It is home production that is encouraged in every branch of industry.

New South Wales has more favorable postal laws than Victoria. Any publisher can mail papers free to all of the other colonies. This includes Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Fiji Islands as well as the other colonies in Australia. There are other smaller islands, settled by the English-speaking people, that are also included in this free postage from the publisher. But in Victoria it costs one cent to send papers to subscribers whether in or out of the colony, and two cents to remail a paper published in America. We have as yet been unsuccessful in the renting of rooms where we could set up the form to print a paper. But this we are in hopes to accomplish before a great while.

There are other advantages that New South Wales presents for publishing, and as headquarters for the work in Australasia: it is a free port, and anything that is brought from America will be brought free of any duty, and direct to Sydney. But large steamers cannot come within three miles of Melbourne, so that all freight has to be transferred from a large steamer to a smaller one as they enter the river. The duty is very high on many things that Americans would want. There is twenty-five per cent duty on manufactured articles.

The climate is better here than in New South Wales, it is not as hot in summer, and it is warmer in winter. There is also more enterprise here. But on the other hand, Queensland, on the north of New South Wales, has a business connection with Sydney, and is an excellent missionary field, as it is growing at present, more rapidly than any other portion of Australia. Emigrants are brought there by the thousands.

It seems necessary that there be a paper published as soon as possible and sufficient help can be secured to conduct it. It would give impetus to the work and greatly strengthen the efforts of the workers. Had we a mission in Melbourne, and Sydney, and one also in New Zealand, and a paper published, the truth could be sent to all parts of the colonies and be shipped to all parts of the world. Canvassing is more difficult here than in America. Looking at the matter from our standpoint it would seem that the angels of God have prepared the way for the truth to go forward in a most remarkable manner. While in some respects there will be greater difficulty in starting the work, there are advantages when the work is once opened that are exceeded in no other portion of the world. It is also evident that the present openings will not long continue. There are elements now at work as in America, only more so in this country, that, unless the special providence of God interferes, will soon close many of these now open doors.

We feel deeply over the matter when we see the present aspect of affairs here. At present there are omens for good, and almost everything is favorable for going forward at once. But in a very short time everything may be changed. Everything is tending that way. Here are over four millions of English-speaking people that are anxious to read. These and the publishing of a paper are open doors whereby they may be reached. But these open doors are about to be closed. Shall we not then stir ourselves and do this work while we can? Once closed and ten thousand dollars and much suffering will not accomplish as much in a greater length of time as one thousand dollars will, at the present, in a short time.

We speak understandingly when we say that unless we work fast and improve the present opportunity to get the light before the people of this country, the work which might be done in this time of peace and prosperity will have to be done in a terrible crisis, and under most discouraging and forbidding circumstances. This state of things is just before the work here. But our courage in God and his work is good. God has given us some marked tokens of his favor since coming to this country, and we look forward expecting that he will give a spirit of co-operation on the part of the friends in America that are rejoicing in the light, and are surrounded with the blessings of home and friends. May God bless and give success is our prayer. S. N. H.