p. 123 | The Missionary by George C. Tenney

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1889

The Missionary.

By George C. Tenney

AUSTRALIA.

WITHIN the past month we have passed through the holiday season; and this has more significance here than it has in America. In some respects the customs of observing the holidays differ in the two countries. There is not such a universal custom of giving presents to friends. A short time ago all public servants expected those whom they served to remember them with a “box,” which is a word for a present of money. But this is fast going out of favor with the public, so that the postman, milkman, nightman, etc., cease to bore their customers in the old style. But everybody must go somewhere. Hence it is a time for excursions and amusements. Christmas-day itself is regarded by the average of church people as a day to be observed religiously. Services are held, and it is accounted by many to be a sin to do business on that day. Not only is this true among the Catholics, but also among Protestants as well. The day following Christmas is called “Boxing-day,” and is a day given up to enjoyments of all kinds. Through the week there is but little business transacted, and no one works unless he is compelled to do so. Watchnight is observed on New Year’s eve quite generally. And the day is zealously observed by the people, who generally seem to regard the holidays as their favorite heritage.

The great exhibition being in progress in Melbourne, thousands of people were drawn there, and every kind of amusement and attraction was produced to attract the crowds, even to an American base-ball team and a Yankee circus. Religious meetings and lectures vied with the theater and the vilest forms of iniquity. It being the warm season, out-of-door attractions were the most popular. As the result, or at least in conjunction with these scenes of revelings, the papers were filled with the most startling accounts of crime, suicides, and calamities that has ever been experienced in the Colonies. The greatly inflated land-boom about this time received a severe puncture by the banks withholding their loans. This bankrupted many pretentious men, and to avoid the disgrace, many resorted to various crimes. One pleasing feature of this time was the performance of Handel’s oratorio, the Messiah, by a chorus and orchestra of over five hundred. It was given five times to immense audiences. Miss Von Finkelstein, a Jewess from Jerusalem, lectured to large audiences on the customs of her people, and the scenes of the Bible. Her lectures were illustrated with costumes and scenery.

The Australian people are notoriously given to amusements. And yet there are many intelligent and thinking people, and among these are many with whom the Bible has great influence. They are strongly attached to the ways of their fathers and to the church in which they have been reared. When these customs, for which they have a genuine reverence, are found to be at variance with the Bible, the struggle becomes a hard one as to which shall be relinquished. I am glad to be able to say that with a goodly number the decision is with the truth of God. And no people have embraced the truth with a greater love for it than these who thus decide for it.

The truth for our times is making progress here, though we could not expect that much would be accomplished in countries where there are no laborers to prosecute its interests. There are in Australia four preachers of the Third Angel’s Message. Two of these are confined in the printing work. One is in Tasmania and one in Adelaide, South Australia. Within the last month about fifty have embraced the truth. The church in Hobart, where Brother Israel is laboring, numbered at its organization in August about twenty. At this time there are about fifty. In Adelaide, Ballarat, and Melbourne there have about ten in each place united with the churches. Among those who united with us here in Melbourne at our quarterly meeting are Captain Muckersey and wife, who embraced the Sabbath and other points of doctrine in California. Sister Muckersey has been doing excellent work at our booth in the exhibition. About 11,000 copies of the Bible Echo have been carefully distributed with much earnest labor, and the fruits are already appearing. One entire family are now in the truth, and in all parts of the country there are many who have become interested in it.

The events which are taking place in America are being closely watched in this country, and we all feel the need of being greatly in earnest in the cause of God. A season of fasting was observed previous to our quarterly meeting, and the blessing of God rested upon us in that meeting in a rich measure.

G. C. T.