p. 522 | The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 33.

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

The Work Is Onward.

It is evident that God is at work for his people in a special manner. When we move in his providence, and do not get in the way of his work, we shall see of his salvation. There is nothing too hard for the Lord, and he has encouraged us to believe that he will do great things for his people.

We have previously mentioned that we had received encouraging reports from the workers in the State of New York. In the city of Cortland, which contains over twelve thousand inhabitants, two hundred and sixty-seven subscribers for the SIGNS were obtained last spring. Also at Auburn, a city numbering twenty-two thousand inhabitants, four hundred and forty-five subscribers were secured. After these subscriptions had been obtained, the tent was pitched and a series of meetings given in these cities. In a letter of July 30, Elder Whitney writes:—

"The work seems to go beyond our expectation in the cities. At last reports there were twenty at Cortland keeping the Sabbath and twenty-five at Auburn. Three tents have been ordered at Auburn for the camp-meeting. We have received over 3,000 copies of the SIGNS and 10,000 Supplements to circulate in advance of our camp-meeting, and we believe we shall be able to distribute so as to receive pay for the most of them."

He then speaks of a providential escape which they had at Cortland, as follows:—

"In a terrible storm Barnum's tent, which was at that place, was wrecked at a loss of $12,000; several lives were lost and many persons were injured. It so happened that our brethren had chosen that day, because of the show, to move their tent to another part of the town, and when the storm struck the town they had their tent all safely rolled up and housed and no harm whatever came to them."

It is certain that God's providence is over his work. The work is also prospering in Maine. In the town of Danforth, where special efforts have been made with the tent, quite a number have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and among them are some of the principal men in the place. And thus God is going before his people by his providence.

The work in our cities should not supersede the work in the country. It is evident that the Lord is willing to do great things for his people when they come into a position where he can, and yet we do not see one tithe accomplished that we might see if we were in a condition where God could work directly through us to his glory.

Good news also comes to us across the waters. In old England, as well as upon the continent, he is gathering for the final harvest. Could our eyes be opened, the curtain be lifted, and we see the interest manifested on the part of Heaven in the salvation of the human family, the only marvel would be that we have not more faith in God's word and more interest in his work.

S. N. HASKELL.