Untitled article by G. C. Tenney

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 4, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 43.

FROM EUROPE.

By G. C. Tenney

ONE of the most remarkable features of our remarkable times is the rapid revolution that is taking place in the relation which heretofore distant and comparatively strange portions of the world are assuming to each other under the process of compression. The annihilation of terrestrial space is one of the great feats of modern improvement. By its transformation, to go to Europe from the United States is no more remarkable than it used to be to travel from one State to another, and the latter now is hardly called travel.

This revolution is significant in many ways. To none has it a greater significance than to the Christian evangelist, and especially to those who are called to give to the world the warning of the soon-coming day of God in connection with the everlasting gospel. The prophet, writing the words of the angel, says of this time, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4. The increased facilities for travel make the most complete fulfillment of this prophecy possible in these last days, and the providence of God has connected the proclamation of his truth with these achievements of modern times. The thought is well worthy of extended consideration, but it is not our purpose to enlarge upon it here.

In the afternoon of July 12 we found ourselves comfortably berthed on the great steamship Majestic, and at 4 o’clock waved our farewells to a group of friends on the wharf, as we swung out into the channel and headed across the Atlantic. This floating village is over five hundred feet in length and contains about 1,500 souls, of whom two-thirds are passengers. Three hundred tons of coal are required each day to “keep things moving,” and it is handled by one hundred firemen. At first it seems like a strange little world we have come into, but as days pass, we become accustomed to the faces of our new neighbors and to the surroundings, so that when the voyage is done, it begins to seem somewhat homelike, though by no means satisfactory.

One week and two hours from the time we left the wharf in New York, we dropped anchor in the harbor of Liverpool. We were thankful to God, who cares for all his creatures, for the safe and prosperous voyage. Brother Drew, our faithful missionary in that port, was on hand to render all the assistance that we needed. Our company consisted of seven adults,—L. A. Smith, who now becomes assistant editor on the Present Truth, published in London, and wife; Brother Simkins, who takes the foremanship of the mechanical work in the office of publication, and his wife; Wm. Lenker, from the Battle Creek College, on his way to India; Elder Olsen and the writer, on our way to visit different portions of Europe and attend general meetings in various places.

At Liverpool Elder Olsen made a detour, going to Belfast, Ireland, and to Banbridge, where it is proposed to locate a private boarding school. The location is a large and pleasant homestead, where the students will be given an opportunity to learn manual labor while pursuing their studies, and thus contribute somewhat towards the expense of their schooling. The prospects for a school are reported to be very favorable, though the attendance at first is likely to be small. Brother Isaac Bell, who has the home, will be “father” of the enterprise, and it is hoped that a teacher can be procured from the workers now in the British field.

The rest of our party proceeded to London, over the Midland Railway, and passed through the beautiful Matlock Vale, celebrated as one of the beauty spots in English scenery. It is but just to say that the agent of this company in Liverpool rendered us every possible aid and attention in making our transfer and railway passage pleasant.

It was with gratitude to God that we greeted once more the workers in London in mutual health and the enjoyment of manifold blessings. The laborers there were bearing heavy loads, and the reinforcement that our company brought them was most welcome and timely. But they do not feel that the need is yet supplied. Indeed, the way the work is opening up it would seem impossible to fill all that is demanded for Great Britain at this time.

The last General Conference recognized the importance of establishing the work in London on a broader and more permanent basis than before, and appropriated $40,000 to the erection of mission and chapel buildings and other necessary equipments for the work. This aid comes none too soon nor is it too liberal. No city in the world exerts the influence that London does. In fact, it is a world in itself, with its 6,000,000 people. It is now expected that we shall be able to secure a desirable site close to the office of publication, on a lease, and there the buildings will be erected.

In other parts of the country the truth is gaining ground with encouraging success. The Bible work in London is carried on with a good interest, and souls are continually coming to a knowledge of the truth. After a few days there we crossed over the North Sea to Holland, and in the early morning reached the city of Rotterdam. The western portion of this country really belongs to the sea. When the fiat went forth, “Hitherto shalt thou come; but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed,” that boundary was doubtless well back toward the German border. And the sea would immediately reclaim its lost dominion but for the dykes and banks erected at untold cost of labor. It is said that the water is Holland’s standing army; and when a few years ago Bismarck intimated that he would send the “six-footers” up there, Holland simply said, “And we will give them seven feet of water.”

The land is mostly devoted to grazing, and everywhere long, gaunt windmills swing their awkward arms in the breezes and pump the water off the land instead of onto it, as in some of our Western States.

An American is almost tempted to change the second “r” in Rotterdam to “n” when he sees how crazy the buildings appear, that is, the older ones, for the soil is too unstable for good foundations, and the buildings have settled out of shape, and lean, some this way and others that way. Many of the streets are waterways, and the most of the heavy traffic is carried over them, so that the land streets are comparatively free from heavy vehicles, much to the relief of passengers. A half day here and another in Amsterdam is all that we could give to Holland, except the time during which we were traversing the country. These cities resemble each other to some extent, though Amsterdam is much the larger, having 450,000 inhabitants. The buildings are finer, and the canals not so numerous. The art gallery is one of the best and most extensive in the world.

There are but few adherents to present truth in Holland, but no doubt there are many honest hearts; and it is gratifying to know that the time is near when more attention will be given to this quaint country than has heretofore been given it. Our next will take us to Hamburg and Copenhagen.

G. C. TENNEY.