REPORT FROM EGYPT by H. P. Ribton

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 8, 1880

REPORT FROM EGYPT.

By H. P. Ribton

A long and severe illness deprived me of the power of working for two months; but God has mercifully raised me up, and I hope again to labor diligently in his service. Meantime our brethren in the Sabbath, both here and in Italy, continue steadfast in their faith and hope. To do so in Italy in the midst of great persecution, requires much firmness; yet the little churches both at Naples and at Bari announce an increase in their numbers. Our church here have passed through a severe trial, several having left us on the question of implicit and unqualified obedience to the commandments. They went out from us because they were not of us. But the faithful ones who remained firm continue to meet for the observance of the day that the Lord has sanctified, as they do also on other days of the week for the study of his holy word.

We have done much work in correspondence and tract distribution during the past month. Indeed, Bro. Rupp has been indefatigable. He has written and sent tracts to a great number of Baptist ministers, in addition to distributing tracts here; which, as well as copies of Les Signes des Temps, have been read with much interest by those to whom he has given them. This month we have sent sixteen new addresses to Bro. Andrews for Les Signes des Temps, and about thirty to Bro. Drew in California for the Signs of the Times.

I have, during the past month, availed myself of my profession as a means of carrying the word into many places where it would otherwise be impossible to gain access. I have thus been enabled to make many new acquaintances, to whom I have announced the near coming of our Lord, and the necessity of obedience to his commandments in order to enter into his new kingdom.

I am still seeking for some means of printing tracts in Greek and Arabic. An Arab friend has already translated into his language the tract "Can we Know?" I have seen specimens of work of two newly invented copying machines, that profess to take off one hundred copies of a given manuscript; also the electric pen of the celebrated Dr. Edison, but none seem sufficiently accurate to be safely depended upon.

Our dear Bro. Bertola writes very pleasing news from Pitesti, near Bucharest, in European Turkey. A little church of twenty Sabbath-keepers has been formed there; it is increasing in numbers, and he baptized several new members during his visit. He relates especially how they put to shame the Jews around them, by closing their shops on the Sabbath; while the latter, who ought to know better, keep theirs open. The rising church owes its origin principally to the reading of Les Signes des Temps. Bro. Bertola has now gone to Odessa, in Russia, on commercial business, where he hopes to gain more fruit.

Thus is spreading the announcement of the coming of our Lord's kingdom. So may the number of his people soon be made up, and so may he come quickly and give rest to his waiting and watching servants. Alexandria, Nov. 1, 1879 H. P. RIBTON