The Missionary by Stephen N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 13.

The Missionary.

By Stephen N. Haskell

FROM THE BRITISH ISLES.

IT has been some time since I have written anything for our papers in America, not because I have not felt interested in them, but because circumstances have been such that it has been impossible to do so. It has now been nearly ten months since we landed in England. We can hardly give an idea of the importance of England, and especially London, so that our friends in America will clearly comprehend it. England proper contains about fifty-one thousand square miles, being less than one-third the size of California. Yet in this limited territory, not so large as the State of New York, are over thirty millions of people; nearly half as many as in the United States. London alone, including its suburbs, contains about five millions. The inhabitants of England are largely crowded into the great cities, London being the largest city in the world, the capital of the British dominions.

The city of London has an area of one hundred and twenty-three square miles. The density of the population may be realized perhaps, in part, when we say that to accommodate the traveling public, underground railways traverse the city, and in some instances one passage is beneath another, both beneath the houses; and into these railway cars pours a continual stream of people, while the streets are filled with buses and street-cars. Were it not for the underground railway system, the streets would be so filled with people as to render traveling exceedingly difficult, if not absolutely impossible. From eight hundred thousand to a million people, it is estimated, leave the city each evening to return to their homes, and go back to the city to their work each morning.

London itself contains about one-twelfth as many people as the entire United States.

People who have spent their entire lives here say that they know but little of the city, there are portions of it in which they have never been. Imagine yourself set down in the center of a city in which you could go over ten miles in any direction without getting out into the country, and you will have some idea of the city of London.

Our London training-school is located about three miles from the post-office, around which center many interesting things of the city. The greatest book market of the world, Paternoster Row, is near this point. London is a great shipping port, the docks being crowded with ships from all quarters of the globe, filling the warehouses of the city with the products of all countries. Liverpool, however, ranks even above London in maritime importance.

The density of its population, the wealth of the nation, and the magnitude of her commercial interests render this one of the most important countries so far as the truth is concerned. England extends its arms around the earth, and there is no portion of the earth's surface, even to the most remote islands of the seas, with which communications cannot be held through London.

We can safely say that one hundred men could find employment in the truth here in London, and not come in contact with one another. There is no end to the field, for seemingly there is no end to the inhabitants. The means of presenting the truth to the people are as varied as the population is diverse. The difficulties to be met with in England are perhaps largely attributable to two causes: (1) The difference in the customs of society as compared with America; and (2) the immensity of the field of operation. When we look at the field before us, and see what has been done, it seems scarcely a drop in the bucket to what must be accomplished by the Third Angel's Message ere the work closes. But when we think of the reading matter that has been distributed among the people, we can realize that much good has been done. As a denomination we are quite extensively known throughout the United Kingdom. How this information has been received we cannot tell, except it be through the publications that have been circulated. The steps taken since our arrival in this country with the workers, have brought the truth to the favorable attention of many.

There are in the city about twenty-five vegetarian restaurants, and over sixty restaurants called the "Lockhart Cocoa Rooms," besides the rooms of the Aerated Bread Company, all together numbering about two hundred eating rooms, all of which are strictly temperance houses. In America it has not been very difficult to place our publications in this class of houses, but in London it is different. Almost every ism that the world knows is represented in London, and all the organizations endeavor to get their publications before the people, so that such places as the ones we have mentioned are besieged by those interested in advocating their peculiar views; and the managers necessarily are obliged to be very exclusive. While daily papers are supplied to their patrons, religious papers are excluded; but in the providence of God the Present Truth and the Good Health have been placed in the vegetarian restaurants, and there is no doubt but that they will be in the Lockhart restaurants.

We have not yet made application to the Aerated Bread Company, but should we succeed in placing our papers in their offices, we would have about two hundred restaurants supplied with reading matter on the present truth. As the result of what has been done we are receiving calls almost daily from those who have seen our publications, and who come in to purchase and make further inquiries. Should we be successful in placing the publications in the other rooms in contemplation, and should the business increase proportionately, it would be sufficient to bring us in constant custom. Individuals living in different parts of the country, hearing of our work, have also written to our office for circulars and publications. By correspondence an interest has awakened, to the extent that quantities of our publications have been disposed of to single individuals, in one case six dozen "Truth Found" being ordered; the purchaser, a gentleman who is not known to us, wishing them to sell at a church bazaar. So the work is going. This will give the reader some idea of the effect of our opening an office on Paternoster Row. As we look over the past few months, we can but see that these steps have been taken, in wisdom. It is true it has been quite expensive, but most assuredly it has been the means of bringing the light of truth before many who have hitherto known but little of us. Two of our churches are now contemplating building chapels. This will greatly aid in giving permanence to our work, which, being conducted by Americans, is regarded as lacking in that quality.

The work in connection with the training school in Tufnell Park has also been quite successful. While on the one hand it might appear that not much had been accomplished, on the other, we have good reasons to thank God and take courage. A goodly number have signed the covenant, and quite an interest has been awakened among many families, principally among those of the Church of England. This church is considered the nearest to the Roman Catholic of any; in fact, it is said that three hundred of its ministers are Roman Catholics at heart, and were the State support to be removed, would go over to the Catholics; that they have pledged themselves to bring the church back to Catholicism. The principal difference now between some of these churches and the Roman Catholic Church, is that in one the service is in Latin, while in the other it is in English. In some of the principal cathedrals in London, altars are placed and the forms of the Roman Catholic worship are copied as far as they can be under the name of Protestantism.

From this denomination, however, a few have come out on the Sabbath, and one lady is now coming regularly to the morning school, to receive instruction in regard to the Bible work. It is evident that God has a people in every class of society, and in every denomination, from the Roman Catholic to the smallest dissenting body. There are hearts that can be touched by the truth; there are souls hungering and thirsting for something besides dry forms, and ritualism. It is evident from the experience we have had, that many from the Church of England, both the high and low church, will embrace the truths of the Third Angel's Message, and help to form the number who shall stand on Mount Zion. It is evident that there will be workers developed in this country, who will render valuable service in the cause of truth. This appears to be a necessity before it will be generally received. One man who was formerly curate of the Church of England, has embraced the truth, and soon, we expect, will give himself to the work.

From the above our friends can form some idea of the nature and extent of the work before us, and what we are trying to do. The work moves slower here than in America or in the colonies. This must necessarily be so where the people pride themselves on the antiquity and stability of their customs. Yet the truth is the same the world over, and God is the same; and it is not by might or by power, but by God's Holy Spirit. When the barriers break and the tidal wave of God's power sweeps over the land, a harvest of souls will be the result of efforts which have been, and are now being, put forth in this kingdom.

S. N. H.