p. 443 | TASMANIA by George C. Tenney

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 22, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 28.

TASMANIA.

By George C. Tenney

ON May 20 I sailed from Melbourne to Launceston, Tasmania, on a long-anticipated visit to the brethren in that Colony. Not many years ago this island was known as Van Diemen's Land, in honor of the Dutch admiral who sent out the ships by which the discovery of the island was made in the year 1842. This honor has more lately been transferred to the navigator Tasman, who was the actual discoverer. The island lies directly south of Australia, the intervening water, Bass Straits, being about 150 miles wide in its narrowest point. The distance from Melbourne to Launceston is nearly 300 miles, each of these cities being situated about forty miles from the open ocean. Launceston is in the northern part, and Hobart in the south, and the distance between them is 130 miles by land.

Tasmania is not thickly settled, it contains 26,000 square miles and about 140,000 inhabitants. The face of the country is hilly and mountainous. It is well wooded with gum trees. Its valleys are fertile, and adapted to fruit and grazing. Its climate will, I believe, compare favorably with any in the world. The air is pure and healthful, and the extremes of heat and cold are never experienced. It is a very near approach to an equable temperate climate for the entire year. But one thing seems to prevent the raising of all kinds of fruit except the tropical varieties, in their greatest perfection, and this is a liability of late and early frosts. Beautiful scenery abounds, especially upon the coast, which are bold and rocky.

On the introduction of the truth in Australia, some of the light reached the heart of Brother G. Foster, who afterward removed to Hobart, where, after careful study he began to observe the Sabbath, and in this was joined by his own and another family. They began requesting help, and in February of 1888, Brethren Israel and Baker went to Hobart with their tent. As a result of their first meeting a church of about twenty members was formed, and this has been increased to nearly sixty. Brother David Steed, one of the number, received license at our Conference, and after arranging his affairs, left his situation to go out with the message. Last February he began meetings in Bismarck, a rural settlement composed mostly of Germans, with some Danes. They received the truth with their characteristic suspicion and caution, and were opposed at every step they took by their ministers. At various points it seemed as if the entire flock would turn and flee from the truth; but gradually conviction fastened upon them, and about forty adult people have received the truth in the love of it.

On my visit to them I reached Bismarck just in time to listen to a discourse by the Baptist minister in opposition to our work. It was a weak attempt at no-law-ism mingled with slander and abuse. The speaker was not aware of my presence, I think, for he made many most untruthful statements about our labors and the work in America. He did not censure those who taught those doctrines in Tasmania, for they knew nothing of the real nature of the schemes they were working at. It was a system of bondage, and he knew all about it, for he was in communication direct with those who told him all about it. Mrs. White is getting very rich, and our people are most unhappy and discontented, etc., etc. It is not necessary that I should quote further. All will be able to finish the chapter and recognize its source.

I spent three days with this company and left them rejoicing in the light of the truth. Returning to Hobart I was eight days with the church, visiting and holding meetings. These were seasons of refreshing. They have received the whole truth and rejoice in it. The last Sunday the brethren came down from Bismarck, and nineteen were baptized in the beautiful bay. These included three from Hobart. Others were prevented by illness from coming forward at this time. Brother Foster, who is the elder of the church in Hobart, hopes soon to arrange to devote his time to the work of proclaiming the message. He has had considerable experience in ministering the word before embracing the truth. Among the brethren at Bismarck is a young man who has preached very acceptably for the Methodists for some time. He speaks German well.

I returned from this visit feeling that God is good, and very much encouraged in the work. It is probable that Brother Steed will remove to Victoria soon and engage in the work here. Many who have embraced the truth in these Colonies have friends in the old countries for whom they are laboring and praying, and God will doubtless make this a means for reaching many souls in Great Britain.

G. C. TENNEY.