p. 9 | The Missionary by Stephen N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 23, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 49.

The Missionary.

By Stephen N. Haskell

Planting the Third Angel's Message in New Zealand.—No. 4.

SEVEN MONTHS' EXPERIENCE OF THE CHURCH AT KAEO.

FROM the previous articles, it will be seen that until Elder A. G. Daniells and wife, of Iowa, went to New Zealand, leaving San Francisco October 31, 1886, the writer was the only Seventh-day Adventist preacher who had ever visited that colony. The time spent there during both visits was about four months, and we left a church at Kaeo of sixteen members, and a company of five at Auckland, all of whom had signed the covenant. Besides these were quite a number of adults and also many children who took their stand the week following our departure. We have already given an account of the organization of the church at Kaeo, which has held regular meetings and Sabbath-school ever since. They at once commenced to lay aside weekly, as God had prospered them, to sustain a laborer when one should be sent to them. Besides this they have made Sabbath offerings in connection with the Sabbath-school, for the purchase of appliances useful in that department. Some weeks these Sabbath contributions have amounted to eight shillings, or nearly $2.00, while that for the support of a minister once reached as high as twelve pounds, or nearly $60 in one week. It is needless to state that their anxiety to have laborers sent among them after we left, was very great.

To be left alone in the midst of an extensive interest, and much opposition, was not a very pleasant prospect to those who had but just accepted an unpopular truth, but there was no alternative, as I had purchased my ticket and secured my berth a month previous. This and other considerations seemed to make it necessary that I should leave them at this time.

But they did not remain idle waiting for a minister to be sent them, but on finding themselves alone, at once organized systematic methods of labor, which have proven to be their life. The result of this labor has been the addition of others to their ranks, which has given new courage and zeal to the missionary spirit, until at present they have increased their club of the Bible Echo from fifty to one hundred copies.

A gentleman who lived among the Maories, the original natives, embraced the Sabbath, and with others who first embraced the Sabbath, purchased Maori Bibles and began to hold Bible-readings with the natives. These natives are naturally intelligent, and religiously inclined. Those of this island, and the Samoan, or Navigators' Islands, appear to be of the same race. They are superior, mentally, morally, and physically, to those of the surrounding islands. They are portly in appearance, peaceable, if well treated, and kind-hearted. As a body, they nominally profess Christianity, as the result of the missions established among them by the Methodists and Lutherans. They lack, however, vital piety, and their religion consists in outward forms and the mere profession of faith in Christ. But they have considerable regard for the word of God, and the second coming of Christ is a precious doctrine to them. The Hare family have no little influence over these natives, their business relations having always been agreeable, while Mother Hare is a physician among them. Brother Edward Hare sought at one time to prepare himself to labor as a missionary among them. Thus any new ideas would be received by them from the Hare family as readily as from any one. During my stay upon the island, steps were taken to issue a four-page monthly sheet in their tongue. Cuts from the Youth's Instructor office have already been sent to Melbourne for this purpose, and it is probable that at no distant date this will be brought about.

Judging from the letters received, and the various other means we have of determining their spiritual condition, there has been among our brethren in New Zealand a growth in grace corresponding with the missionary zeal and efforts which they have put forth. It is impossible for a missionary spirit to exist without a healthy spiritual interest. Christianity is a missionary work. Its author is our Lord Jesus Christ. He left the realms of glory, where he was worshiped and adored by all the holy angels, to come to this lost world, and save the one lost sheep of his Father's fold, that there might be one fold and one shepherd.

The second mail after we left brought the following notice:—

"We have a young man, whom you baptized before you left, who is earnest and devoted in the truth. He has not much means, but we think could he take a run through your college, he might be a help to the cause here in New Zealand. We do not see how we can spare him without loss to ourselves, but if you will sustain him in College while there, we will send him to you. We can recommend him as a worthy young man." We at once responded that it would be a privilege for our people to sustain him during his stay in the College. Accordingly Brother — sailed on the July boat and is now in Healdsburg attending the College. Some of the other brethren now contemplate visiting this country, bringing some of their older children to be placed under the care of our educational institutions. It is but an act of justice to state that the California Sabbath-school Association prefers to pay Brother — expenses at the College. It was the Sabbath-schools of California which made the first donations of their offerings for one quarter to carry the message to that distant land, and it is no marvel that they should crave the privilege of contributing to the education of one of the first converts from that country. The association has also donated $1,000 of its funds the present year to the establishment of a mission in South Africa. We can but feel that should they keep such objects before the children as that of planting the truth in foreign lands, and the education of missionaries for those fields, it will not only be a worthy object of itself, but that it will instill into their young minds the true missionary spirit.

Such methods will be approved of the Master, who was himself a missionary to this world of sin, penniless and friendless, except for the angels of God, who had an interest in his mission. No individual can ask a higher or more honorable calling than to co-operate in such a work, even though it requires the sacrifice of home and friends, and every earthly pleasure and treasure.

The work accomplished by the friends in New Zealand during the last seven months, may be summed up as follows:—

They have now two young men in America, attending the Healdsburg College, one of whom has done acceptable work with a tent during the last summer. In the missionary work at Auckland, they have supplied with bound volumes of our periodicals and other reading matter, hundreds of vessels, going to the islands of the Pacific, and various other parts of the world, and also the boats which trade along the coast. Quite an extensive correspondence has already been worked up with the islands of the sea by Sister Edward Hare, who is also in correspondence with the secretary of the International Society. Regular weekly meetings are held in Auckland, and during the week they have Bible-readings nearly every evening. The company have had an addition of thirteen to their numbers as a result of these efforts. These have signed the covenant. Bible-readings are also being held among the native Maories. We do not know just the amount of money paid for Sabbath-school appliances, and the support of other branches of the work, but from what we have learned, not less than $75 has been sent to Australia, to help the cause there, and including what was paid as while there, $150 has been sent to aid the work in this country. Over 5,000 copies of the Bible Echo have been distributed, and more than 500 copies of Volume IV have been sold, besides many copies of "Daniel and the Revelation," "Home Hand Book," and other works published by our people, to the amount of about $1,000. We feel sure that God's providence has been over the work in New Zealand, and as we look back upon it, we can only praise God for the power he has given to his truth to affect the hearts of those who have taken a stand upon it, and cause them to manifest so great a desire to co-operate with the friends in America, who have sent it to them. They appreciate the efforts put forth by our people, and desire to do something to show their gratitude for the precious light that has shone in their pathway.

The same spirit of persecution which exists in Europe and America has also been aroused in New Zealand. Two of the friends have been arrested for working on the first day of the week, but the case failed because the Sunday statute states that only those who work publicly violate the law, and these brethren were working on the inside of a house and those who accused them had to watch purposely to find them at work. But this has not in any way weakened their faith or daunted their courage. They talk as our brethren do here in America, where they have been imprisoned. It only increases their zeal, and leads them to desire a closer walk with God that they may do nothing for which he would condemn them, but have his approval and guidance.

No reason can be given for the progress the work has made in this newly-entered country, save that God is with his truth, and it should encourage the hearts of the brethren here in America to see the hand of God so clearly leading and guiding the work of the Third Angel's Message. It is what we have been looking for for so many years. We can only say, May God hasten the time when the earth shall be lighted up with the radiant truth that he has given his people in the last days. S. N. H.