p. 12 | FIELD NOTES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 58.

FIELD NOTES.

By Editor

AN IOWA canvasser, Brother D. B. Rinely, tells of a railroad section boss and all his men subscribing for "Bible Readings."

A CANVASSERS' institute, of six weeks' duration, is now under way in Baltimore. It is under the auspices of the Atlantic Conference, and was opened on the 20th inst.

BROTHER JOHN F. JONES, just before his departure to attend the ministers' school at Battle Creek, reported an addition of five members to the church in Baltimore.

ELDER H. S. SHAW, who was assigned by the General Conference to labor among the colored people of the South, has begun his work and is of good courage. His address is Chattanooga, Tenn.

SPEAKING of the new Sanatorium at College View, Neb., the Enterprise says: "The Sanatorium is now on its feet and ready for work. Dr. A. N. Loper has been chosen as medical superintendent and physician in charge, with Dr. Kellogg, A. R. Henry, Elder W. B. White, and J. Sutherland as the other members of the board of managers, and the work is now begun."

AFTER closing a series of tent meetings in Atlanta, Ga., on account of the cold weather season, Elder Rodney S. Owen was offered the free use of a church in the vicinity of the tent location, and started in for another series of meetings. The matter of raising funds for a new meetinghouse is progressing encouragingly. The church has been in a measure homeless since their house of worship was burned last spring.

ELDER W. C. GRAINGER reports a good work in the vicinity of Crow's Landing, San Joaquin County, Cal. He had baptized seven at one time, and twice as many more are convinced on the point of Sabbath observance. He had accomplished more by house-to-house labor than by public preaching, having some forty families interested in our reading matter. Too many ardent public laborers come short in the matter of teaching "from house to house."

BROTHER E. J. HAMMER, who spent some time in the SIGNS office last summer, writes encouragingly from his home in Indianapolis. Of the institute, which had been in progress two weeks at date of writing (Dec. 3), he says: "The Holy Spirit is present to convert, and already ten have stepped out on the commandments and applied for membership. The Sabbath school is also increasing in numbers and interest, the membership being now over 100."

THERE is a general expression of pleasure at the privilege to be afforded our people of studying the subject of the "Sanctuary of the Bible," in our Sabbath schools during the first quarter of 1895. Those who have united with us in recent years have not had this privilege, and such as were in the schools when the subject was before them some years ago, are especially glad of the opportunity to take up the study once more. As we close the year's lessons on the Book of Luke, ending with the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is fitting that we follow his work of prophet with the study of his work as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. It is especially essential as that work is nearing its close, to be followed by his appearance as a glorious King.

IN a letter in the Workers' Bulletin, of Des Moines, Iowa, we note the following paragraph pertaining to the Battle Creek (Mich.) College—

The students have a missionary meeting every Wednesday evening. The time is usually occupied by some one of their own number from another country, in telling of his home life, the manners, customs, etc. The last meeting was addressed by a Maori chief [native of New Zealand], quite a polished gentleman. Every word he said was entertaining and instructive. One could not fail to be impressed with his devotion to the cause we love.

FOLLOWING is an extract from a letter from a missionary in Algeria, illustrating that the great truths advocated by Seventh-day Adventists may be expressed in a manner that will render them acceptable as helps by other laborers than those of our own denomination. The writer says:—

I thank you very much for the work by Mrs. White ("Steps to Christ"). It is excellent. I have translated some of it into French, and used it in my sermons at the French Protestant Church here. I am not an Adventist, but I hope I am a Christian; I believe in the Lord's approaching return. Certainly the Lord's coming is a matter about which the Christian church needs arousing.

THE first camp meeting of our people in the State of Florida, which is now in the past, was a decided success. The camp comprised about two hundred people at the beginning, which number was afterward increased. The meeting was held at Tampa, where there is a live church of our brethren. Elder R. M. Kilgore, superintendent of General Conference District No. 2, was present, as also Elder A. T. Jones. These, with Elders Geo. I. Butler, L. H. Crisler, J. W. Collie, and others of the Florida Conference, comprised a strong working force. After the meeting ten persons were baptized at Ybor City by Elder Crisler.

ELDER WM. INGS writes as follows to the Missionary Echo concerning a recent visit to our excellent Health Retreat at Crystal Springs, St. Helena, Cal.—

I found it full of respectable people from all parts of the land. All moved around with an air of satisfaction. Those that I heard make mention of the place, spoke in the highest terms of the efforts made by all connected with the institution, for the comfort and restoration of health. It is the Lord's institution, and the managers are the Lord's people, and we certainly should expect to see a good spirit prevailing when all do their duty. The Lord is surely blessing the work done there. One patient who had suffered for years with rheumatism, told me that had he known of the place before, he would have been saved much suffering, and $9,000 that he had paid the doctors. He went there on crutches, and when he was talking to me he was free from pain, and could move around with ease, and now he has gone home as a living testimony of the benefits to be obtained at the institution. Such witnesses will bring more patronage than any other advertising.

IN a revival meeting in the Oakland church, some five years ago, a young mulatto man of small stature and light build, a stranger to most of the church, was converted. Being illiterate and somewhat diffident, he hesitated about saying anything in the meeting. He finally took courage and stood up and stated his conviction, saying, "I've been holding back for fear people would think I wanted to push myself among white folks." The "white folks" were glad to receive him, and gave him encouragement. He had a desire to labor with his people in the South (he was a native of a Southern State), and worked his way at Healdsburg College for a preparation for that work. We now notice the name of Brother Monroe Payn in the Southern Review, as one of our "colored agents" canvassing for "Bible Readings" and other works in the State of Alabama. May the Lord give him success in pushing the truth among the colored people of the South. He has now the opportunity for which he expressed such ardent desire when first he found the Saviour.