The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 15, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 19.

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

City Missions.

WE are receiving good reports from nearly all of the city missions which have been established. The fact is being demonstrated that our publications can be sold in the cities and on board of ships.

If the same prosperity attends Chicago Mission which has of late, it will erelong become nearly self-sustaining by the sales of our publications by those who are acting as missionaries.

We hear nothing but encouraging reports from Buffalo. Brother Whitney writes that the work opens up well, and already the interest is such that two missionaries find all that they can do with interested parties. They are now taking steps to open a mission in Albany; in Syracuse they have already commenced. The brethren in the Pennsylvania Conference are preparing to enter Philadelphia, which is the most important city in this State and ranks as second in the United States.

If present arrangements of our brethren are carried out, including Brooklyn, with New York and excepting Baltimore, missions will be established in the ten largest cities of the United States, also numerous smaller ones, before the autumn of 1884.

The work is progressing in Boston. A young brother, who has had but little experience, is meeting with good success in the missionary work in Boston, especially on ships. He is making numerous sales of our publications and distributing old periodicals. In a letter ordering a quantity of "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation," and "United States in Prophecy," also tracts, he writes: "I have had some very interesting experiences and I can see the leading hand of the Lord in his work; the truth is onward. Last night I had an interesting talk with the captain of a Norwegian vessel and sold him 'Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation,' and one to the captain of another vessel of the same kind."

From a private letter written to his aunt, we take the liberty to make the following quotation:

"The last three or four Sundays I have been holding Bible-readings. One Sunday I held three. Brother Israel was here last Sunday and held readings, and I went with him. One young man especially, with whom I held a Bible-reading upon the Sabbath and who changed the Sabbath, I am particularly interested in. I sold him 'United States in Prophecy,' and he was quite deeply stirred on the Sabbath question. He said he could see that it was right and that we had the proof on our side, 'But,' said he, 'how can a person in my circumstances keep it?' He is a German and is just about my age, and I should judge him to be a Christian young man. He seemed much affected over the subject. I saw him last Friday, and was with him nearly three hours when I held the reading. Began at four and stayed till seven in the evening. I was afraid I had overdone the matter, as he didn't want to hear on the 'United States in Prophecy.' He said he was wholly convinced on the Sabbath question. I spent about one and one-half or two hours with him yesterday and talked about the 'United States in Prophecy.' But I must leave the results with God alone; he can open the way for him. He is well educated, and can translate the English into the German."

"I spent one evening talking with the captain of a Norwegian vessel. I really wish Eld. Haskell or Robinson could come down here and see him, and have a talk with him. He is very much interested in the study of Prophecy. In some way he had obtained our works and wrote on to Elder Uriah Smith for the 'United States in Prophecy,' and has translated it into his own language; he has not had it printed yet, and his manuscript is at home in Norway. He invited me to come again and talk with him. I believe the Lord is opening the way for the spread of his truth in the whole earth. Such things greatly encourage me. I have several Bible-readings to hold now, as many as five or six ahead. Hold one Friday and two Sunday."

S. N. HASKELL.