The Mission at Melbourne.
By M. C. Israel
IT has now been about six months since we landed on the shores of Australia, and the readers of the SIGNS have been informed from time to time about the country, and the progress of the work, through articles from the pen of Elder Haskell. He has been absent from here about two months. We have had a tent made, forty by sixty-four feet, and set up in North Fitzroy, one of the suburbs of Melbourne, and forty-three meetings have been held in it. During the first twenty-three of these, the average attendance was about one hundred. Since that time the weather has been unfavorable, and the attendance not so large. The interest from the first has been good, and the same persons, to quite a large extent, have followed up the meetings. A gentleman who kindly furnished us an organ, and has played and led the singing part of the time, said, "Your congregation is composed of the earnest, thinking people of the neighborhood." The people of that locality have been stirred, as the evidences of the near coming of the Lord, and kindred events, have been presented to them from the Scriptures, and what they must do in order to be prepared for that time. The truth has caused anxious thought, and some sleepless nights, for those who are conscientious and want to obey God. Twenty-three have already signed the covenant. This includes those who were interested before the meeting and were keeping the Sabbath. There are thirty adult Sabbath-keepers here besides those of us who came from America. Quite a number more are studying how they can arrange their business so that they can keep the Sabbath. The sound has gone out about this "new religion," as it is called, and the locality of the tent is not the only place where the people are being moved by it. I will state one or two instances. About two months after we came here, a man from South Melbourne called in and got two copies of the SIGNS, and a tract, "The Second Advent," and became much interested; he attended several Sabbath meetings, and opened the way for us to hold Bible-readings with his friends. As the result thus far, six, all heads of families, are obeying the truth, and doing good missionary work in that place; so that quite a number of others are deeply interested and attend our meetings when they can. Another man from Footscray, hearing through them of us, came one evening to a Bible-reading. He went home and lay awake the rest of the night thinking about what he had read. He came again, bringing two of his brethren. They bought a set of Bible-readings and obtained other reading matter, which they took home and studied. The result is that six adults in that place have accepted the truth even to paying tithes. One of them has purchased a full set of the "Testimonies," and another has engaged them. They are also sending the silent messengers, and our "able minister" (the SIGNS) out in all directions to their friends, and so the truth is moving on. About thirty-five thousand periodicals, mostly SIGNS, have been distributed. Twenty-seven public libraries have been supplied with bound books, SIGNS, Good Health, and Pacific Health Journal. Quite a number of ships and steamers have been supplied with reading; but lately we have not been able to attend to the shipping much, we are so short of help. We have quite a list of subscribers to our periodicals. The Pacific Health Journal is quite a favorite here, as well as the Good Health, among the temperance people, and we shall be glad to welcome it every month, instead of every two months, as at present. The book sales at the tent amount to $35; donations, about $65. It has been decided to commence the publication of a sixteen-page monthly paper, to be called Bible Echo and Signs of the Times. The first volume will commence with the new year. This is very much needed, as the people will patronize a paper published here, that will be identified with the country, and discuss issues in its different departments that will properly come up, and should be noticed in such a paper. There are many reasons that make it necessary to have a paper published here as soon as possible. Our health and temperance periodicals and publications are highly appreciated by the health and temperance societies here that have received them. Letters have been received from them by us to this effect. The temperance organization have a large hall and temperance book depot in Melbourne, and are agents to take subscriptions or to sell any of our periodicals or publications. The prospects here are encouraging; and we think that those who embrace the truth will do all they can to support and extend the work, but we need laborers and means to assist in getting it well started. We are all well and of good courage, and we ask the continuance of the prayers of the people of God, that our work may be wrought in him, and that it may move forward rapidly. We thank our good brethren of California for their generous donation of dried fruit, and shall continue to feel thankful for months to come, as we partake of it. M. C. ISRAEL. Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 2, 1885.