p. 441 | Australia by M. C. Israel

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 22, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 28.

Australia.

By M. C. Israel

As the readers of the SIGNS would be glad to hear from this corner of the great harvest field, I will try to give some of the items of interest in connection with the work here. Since the tent was taken down, Elder Corliss has held meetings in the Prahan Town Hall, Sunday nights, near where the last tent meeting was held. The place will seat about five hundred persons, and it has been well filled with attentive hearers. I spent the month of May in Ballarat, which is the second city in importance in the Colony, having a population of thirty-six thousand. During this time quite an interest was raised by holding Bible-readings in families. The readings commenced with a few at first; but after the first week, from twelve to twenty-five adult persons of the best class of citizens came together nearly every night, manifesting the deepest interest in the truth as it was brought out point after point.

After each reading was over, the people would remain together till eleven o'clock, talking on the subjects presented, and, although they saw that to obey would conflict with their business interests, and separate them from friends, yet they esteemed the friendship of God and the riches of Christ of far more value than any consideration of a worldly character. The following extract from the leading paper of the place will illustrate this fact:—

"It is remarkable what sacrifices some business people are prepared to make for conscience' sake. This remark is drawn forth by a notice in the window of a Bridge Street firm, to the effect that in future their establishment will not be open on Saturdays until sunset. The members of the firm in question are not of the Hebrew persuasion, but it seems that they are connected with a new religious sect which has sprung up in Ballarat, and which, after close research into the Scriptures, particularly the book of Exodus, has come to the conclusion that it is contrary to the law of the Almighty to enter into any business on the Saturday until the orb which gives us light has set. "We are not aware of the particular nature of the religious scruples in question, but that the persons who hold the belief are extremely earnest in their convictions is clearly shown by the fact that they are prepared to lose the whole of Saturday's business rather than to infringe upon what they think is a divine command.

We understand that several other business people, in addition to the firm in Bridge Street, intend to follow suit, and one of these has a large establishment in Sturt Street. The notice in the shop in Bridge Street attracted a good deal of attention yesterday. A large number of Jewish citizens at one time surrounded the window, wondering whether the two gentlemen carrying on the shop had come over to their form of religion. The innovation will, no doubt, be welcomed by employés."

The editor evidently had not heard of us as a denomination. A hall has been engaged, and Elder Corliss and myself will commence meetings there on the 20th of this month. From the progress that the truth has made, and what we know of the character of the people, we have hopes that a good strong church will be raised up there; there are already about twenty keeping the Sabbath.

The press of this city has not been inclined to favor us by giving publicity to our work, but lately there seems to be a change taking place. Last week the Praharan Telegraph mentioned the "company of earnest, Christian workers" that had come here from America, and the prominent difference between them and other Christians "which leads them to adopt the seventh day, or Saturday, as their Sabbath." They also gave quite a good report of the meeting held at the Town Hall.

Last Sabbath the proprietor of the Evening Herald, a city paper, sent a reporter to learn about "the new sect," that he had seen coming out of the church the Sabbath before. This reporter made quite extensive inquiries in regard to the rise and progress of Seventh-day Adventists. We feel thankful for anything that has a tendency to get the truth before the people.

We had a call to-day from a gentleman who has been reading the books that were sent from Oakland two years ago to the Public Library. He had read the four volumes of "Great Controversy," the "Sanctuary and the Twenty-three Hundred Days," and was nearly through "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." He expressed himself as being deeply interested, but said that there were some things which he did not understand. He purchased some tracts, and wanted a small prophetic chart, and a map to illustrate the Eastern Question. As the attention of the people is called to our work, these books in the libraries will be looked up, and read with interest.

Another interesting item of to-day, is, that a letter was received from one who subscribed himself, "Poor brother in Christ," containing twenty-three pounds ($112) as tithes, with the statement that after the brethren had given what they wanted to towards buying a new top for the tent, he would pay the balance. This insures us a tent for the next season that will keep out the rain. Another "poor brother" not long ago donated fifty pounds ($243.50) to the mission, and loaned them four hundred more for two years without interest, to lift the debt contracted in getting a new printing machine. It is refreshing to get reports from these "poor brethren," and we pray that the Lord will bless them, and add to their number till the hundred and forty-four thousand is made up, and the wants of the cause are all supplied. I might give you many more items of interest, but it would make this report too long.

We have secured the use of a nice church, centrally located, in which to hold our meetings and Sabbath-school for a year. Our church now numbers about ninety-seven. District meetings are held in the different suburbs where our brethren reside. These and our Sabbath meetings are real seasons of refreshing. The Sabbath-school is to have a reunion on the anniversary of its organization, the evening of July 4; it commenced with eleven members, and now has ninety-four. The missionary work is carried on quite extensively, and with encouraging results. All of our company are well, and of good courage. Brother Arnold has taken nearly one thousand orders for "Thoughts" since we arrived here, and his health has very much improved. We attribute the success of the work here largely to the thousands of earnest prayers that have gone up for this mission. Will the brethren still remember us?

M. C. ISRAEL. Melbourne, June 13, 1886.