OUR WORK AND WORKERS by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 24, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 51.

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By Editor

THE Gleaner reports successful tent meetings at Adelaide, South Australia. Twelve had accepted the message presented, and the interest continued.

DURING the month of October the sales of our denominational books in Australia amounted to over $3,800. The sales of single copies of the Bible Echo footed up 17,544 during the same month.

AT Stevensville, Mont., Elder C. N. Martin recently baptized three persons in the Bitter Root River. The matter of organizing a church was postponed on account of the severe weather, which prevented many from attending the meetings.

REPORTS of our work in Brazil show that in the state of Parana there are two companies and a school; in Sao Paulo, three companies, and in Santa Catharina, two churches. Three colporteurs are at work among the German population of Rio Grande do Sul.

THE issue of the American Sentinel of date November 26 had reached, at last report, 65,000. This is a good report, yet the successive numbers since that date are fully as important as that one, and it is not expected that future numbers will wane in either interest or value.

A GENERAL meeting held in the village of Sara Sabatista, in the province of Entre Rios, Argentina, in October, was attended by about one hundred and fifty of our people. The church at Crespo numbers 107. Crespo is a colony of German Russians who emigrated to Argentina ten years ago.

ELDER J. R. PALMER reports the organization of a church of fifteen members at Clark's Fork, Mont. He also reports a growing spirit of opposition to the truth in various parts of the state. This, of course, is to be expected everywhere. The adversary is constantly engaged in throwing obstacles in the way of the pure Gospel, and ever finds his readiest mediums among those who profess great Christian zeal.

ELDER D. T. BOURDEAU writes: "I am in a French colony near the southern line of Manitoba, and notwithstanding the fearful blizzards, deep snows, howling wolves, and intense cold on these wild prairies, six entire families have embraced the message. Several Catholic families are studying present truth, and treat us after a godly sort. We are starting a missionary society, and it seems to be an imperative necessity to build a plain meeting house and sheds to shelter man and beast."

A LETTER dated Auckland, N. Z., November 24, states that Elder E. W. Farnsworth and wife and Elder S. N. Haskell had arrived in that city after a pleasant voyage from Sydney, Australia. Good meetings are reported in connection with the New South Wales Conference at Sydney, and steps were taken for the advancement of the cause in that growing field. Elder W. L. H. Baker was elected president of the conference. A general meeting was to be held at Auckland, beginning November 25, and a conference for New Zealand was appointed for the present month, to be held at Napier.

BROTHER F. A. WASHBURN has resigned his position as principal of the High School at Farmer City, Iowa, because he was required by the board of education to attend to extra duties on the Sabbath. The public schools have hitherto been a source of earning a livelihood for many of our people, because they could teach and observe the Sabbath. But the adversary has succeeded in bringing in so many extra requirements calling teachers out on the seventh day, on one pretext or another, that conscientious Sabbath-keepers are well-nigh ruled out, especially in the cities. In the matter of securing employment in the world, the lines are being drawn tighter and tighter on those who will "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." But this should not be a source of discouragement, as "all things work together for good to them that love God." The work of the Lord is still open, and there is room for thousands to engage in selling the literature containing the message that God would have placed in the hands of the people. Those who have faith in the work of God, and are willing to labor in his vineyard, even at this eleventh hour, will find their "bread and water sure." God has said, and his word fails not, that "the laborer is worthy of his hire." Again he says, "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you." Many, however, will not realize the force of this promise until every other avenue of employment is closed up; and many will not sense it until it is too late and their services will not be wanted. The harvest will be past, the summer ended, and their souls not saved.