OUR WORK AND WORKERS by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 19, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 46.

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By Editor

A CANVASSERS, writing to one of our state conference papers, says of a certain locality: "The discussion of gold and silver is occupying the attention of the people here to such an extent that it is hard to get them interested in books that treat of the subject of laying up treasure where moth and rust do not corrupt." This statement, which is to a certain extent true in every community, brooks the pertinent query, Will not the indulgence of political discussion by the Lord's people have a tendency to lessen the interest in heavenly things? It is only by keeping the eye fixed upon the "prize" that there is any hope of winning the race. All detraction of interest from the main issue toward the controversies of the world, is of the adversary. "All the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of them," can have no attraction for him who will "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."

BROTHER W. G. BUCKNER reports the addition of five members to the church at Stockton, Cal.

THREE persons were recently baptized in the river at Knoxville, Tenn., by Elder Grant Adkins.

ELDER G. T. WILSON reports to the Bible Echo the addition of eleven members to the church at Hobart, Tasmania.

OUR brethren should all remember that the special season of prayer this year, instead of being a week or ten days at holiday time, as in the past, is appointed for November 26 to 29.

THE last Indicator gives notice that Elder A. E. Place, president of New York Conference, would be at Tonawanda on the 14th and 15th of this month for the purpose of organizing a church.

ELDER W. C. WHITE, now in Australia, notes the progress made by Brother A. W. Semmens in the establishment of a Health Home in Ashfield. He has fitted up treatment and bath rooms in a roomy cottage, and up to the present has enjoyed a fair degree of patronage. Besides giving treatment to the sick who come to him, he devotes much time to the instruction of those who wish to learn how to keep well, and how to minister to others.

FROM the camp ground at Adelaide, South Australia, Elder W. C. White writes: "To-day (October 8) the camp ground is a busy place. Sixty tents are up, and all engaged. There is a prospect of a good attendance of our people. Forty-five have just come off the train from Melbourne. The ground is favorably located. Ten thousand copies of the camp-meeting edition of the Bible Echo have been sold, and thousands of people promise to attend the meeting."

THERE is a "little colored band"—a Sabbath school of twenty members—at Norfolk, Va., who report courage under discouraging circumstances. One of their number writes to the Messenger, and among other good words are these: "We feel willing to bear the persecutions of the world for Jesus' sake. Friends forsake us, ministers and teachers of popular churches assail us, and enemies threaten us; but God is our refuge, and his truth is our shield and buckler." To this we would add, "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

ELDER S. N. HASKELL arrived in Melbourne, Australia, from Cape Town, S. Africa, October 8, two days earlier than was expected. He reported a rough passage, the steamer running through an immense field of icebergs. For days she was in danger, as more than a hundred icebergs were sighted. Careful measurements showed that one of them was 640 feet high, and over half a mile long. Another was 400 feet high and three-fourths of a mile long. When Elder Haskell landed he was suffering from a severe cold contracted because of the sudden fall of temperature among the icebergs.

OF the work in Manitoba, we have the following from Elder J. C. Foster: "October 10 I organized a church of twenty-two members at Roden. Part of these were formerly members of the church at Winnipeg. Six were baptized. Since that time I have labored in the southern part of the province. I also went over into North Dakota, where there is a colony of French Baptists. The pastor and his wife and a sister have taken their stand for the 'present truth.' This man has had about seven years' experience in the ministry, and I think will be a useful man to labor with his own people."

IN a report to the Bivouac, Elder W. J. Stone tells of his work at Belt, Mont., which resulted in twelve adherents to the faith, a Sabbath school of twenty members, and the purchase of a chapel organ. "Altho they have a lease of one year on the Scandinavian M. E. Church building, the minister is much opposed to their using it. Brother Stone says: 'Bitter opposition has been waged against us ever since our meetings closed, by the Baptist, Methodist, Swedish Methodist, and Lutheran ministers, besides an aged Campbellite preacher. They have visited, preached, held Bible readings, scattered Canright's literature, and resorted to almost every means, foul or fair, to hinder the progress of the truth. But the word of the Lord standeth sure, "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." It has only helped to establish every soul who has made a start, more firmly in the faith. The position taken by all our opponents there has been the abolition of the Ten Commandments.' If the reader will turn to Revelation 12 and read it carefully through, he will see what spirit is behind all opposition to the law of God. He will also see that the 'commandments of God' and the 'testimony of Jesus Christ' are inseparably connected. See also chapter 14: 12."

AMONGST the late items of interest sent us from Australia, by Elder W. C. White, is the following: "October 1 was a day to be remembered at Avondale. It marked the close of a very successful evening school (held for those waiting for our regular school), which had been organized and conducted by Prof. H. C. Lacey. On the evening of the same day, just as the workmen were closing their regular labors, a company gathered where the foundations had been marked out for our boarding house, and the first brick was laid in the foundation of what we shall call Bethel Hall. With appropriate remarks, Mrs. E. G. White, who has strong faith in the future of this school, laid the first brick, on a well-prepared foundation of concrete. Prayer was offered for the prosperity and success of the builders of the hall, and for the character builders who should afterwards occupy it. Short but earnest addresses were made by W. C. White, H. C. Lacey, and Metcalfe Hare, the chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the school board. It is the intention of the board that this building shall be ready for use by the middle of March."