OUR WORK AND WORKERS by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Feb 22, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 8.

Read the full edition

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By Editor

The church at Oakland, Wis., has opened a school.

Seven members were recently added to the church at Grand Junction, Colo.

Brother S. H. Lane notes in the Recorder the organization of a church at Elgin, Ill.

At Salem, Ind., twenty were added to the church recently, after a day's meeting conducted by Brother S. S. Davis.

Brother H. H. Graf, missionary in Brazil, reports having baptized sixty persons during a two months' tour.

The mission in Salt Lake City has been presented with a new organ by a Chicago firm whose name we have not learned.

Meetings held at Knapp, Wis., by Brother Swin Swinson, in the interest of the Scandinavians, resulted in the conversion of three persons.

In South Sioux City, Iowa, January 28, a Sabbath-school of thirteen members was organized by Brother V. Thompson. A missionary Sunday-school is also in progress.

At the last quarterly meeting of the church at Missoula, Mont., ten members were added. Four others were observing the Sabbath who had not yet united with the church.

Six persons have accepted the doctrine of the "commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," as presented by Brethren Wm. Guthrie and W. E. Frederick at Hedrick, Iowa.

On the 4th of December last Brother F. M. Burg baptized eight candidates at Rohnerville, Cal., and his report in the California Missionary notes that a half dozen more are awaiting an opportunity to follow the example of the Lord.

Brother J. P. Covert writes that at Milton Junction, Wis., January 28, twenty-five persons went forward and signified their desire to join the church. This was the result of a revival during the general meeting which was held there.

A letter from Sister Lena E. Howe, of Honolulu, dated February 1, says: "The work is prospering here, and we are much encouraged; are just finishing fitting up a little chapel. It is very neat and pleasant, and all seem pleased with it."

Our church in Kingston, Jamaica, has a membership of 250. Kingston is an excellent missionary center, having 50,000 inhabitants, and being a stopping-place for steamers running from Europe and the East coast of the United States to South America and return. It is also becoming quite a resort for tourists.

Of the mission at Butte, Mont., Brother C. N. Martin writes to the Bivouac as follows: "Our work at the mission is onward. A number of very interesting cases have been developed since last report. Seven have professed conversion since January 1. Our attendance and interest are increasing. It does our hearts good as we see the softening, subduing influence of the Gospel of Christ taking effect on the lives of those who come under its influence."

Our Colorado Conference organ, Echoes from the Field, says: "The prospects are that after the General Conference we will organize a Medical Mission at Cripple Creek. . . . Our Medical Mission in Denver is still crowded with poor invalids who come for treatment. There are no vacancies at the lunch counter, and the hall is full every evening with those hungering for the Gospel."

Of the Helping Hand Mission in Indianapolis, Brother O. S. Hadley says in the Reporter: "The neatest and cleanest mission in the State, and the best penny-lunch counter, is at the Helping Hand Mission, operated by our people in this city, at 43-47 East South Street. Just think how the neglected will now relish a good spray bath, hot and cold water, and a good new spring bed for the night for only ten cents, and then a good breakfast for five cents! Many an impoverished man is there made happy, and the outcast is made to rejoice by reason of the Helping Hand Mission."

From the Minnesota Worker of the 1st inst. we cull this item: "Success is still attending the efforts of the brethren in Minneapolis in selling that million-copy edition of the Signs. They relate some very interesting experiences. The Minneapolis society is doing some good work also in this line. Over one thousand copies have been distributed by the members besides those sold by the canvassers. Brother Burgess sells about 175 copies per week of five days; thus his profits would be $8.75 for five days' work; but this is the smallest part of the consideration. There are at least thirty good sermons in the paper."

Brother C. A. Hall, writing to the Foreign Mission Board from Balaclava, Jamaica, concerning the work there, says: "Thirty names already are down, and many more have promised to obey the truth. I am now alone, and can not reach out far among the almost inaccessible mountain peaks with which I am surrounded. A little beyond me is heathenism complete. In a great range of country there are only three married couples, and the conditions are so vile that the colored people here beg me not to venture among them. I have seen but two white men here since I came, in September. The people are crying for a church in this place. We are planning to erect one, which I may have to assist in building. This is several miles beyond any church; and beyond this there is neither church nor schoolhouse for a long distance, some say twenty miles; not much difference between this and Matabeleland, Africa, save that some of the people here can partially understand the English language, and are somewhat civilized."

In the Cook Islands the people never have taken any account of the day-line change in the reckoning of days. They naturally knew nothing about it, and the missionaries have heretofore taken no notice of it. So the day that they have kept as the first day of the week, or Sunday, is really the seventh day. Our missionaries, therefore, have observed the Sabbath on the same day that the people do, while teaching that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and there is no need of changing the popular Sabbath practise as far as the day is concerned. A year or so ago, however, the Catholics endeavored to have the day changed by the Parliament. The British resident would not accede to the proposition, when first made, but he has been removed, and the matter is likely to become a live issue. In one of the Islands the London Missionary Society's agent has started a monthly periodical which is advocating the change, thus uniting with the Catholics in the issue. Our missionaries feel the need of a small press with which to advocate the Sabbath truth more extensively at this critical moment.

In a recent report of Brother C. L. Emmerson, of the St. Paul, Minn., Helping Hand Mission, we find the following stirring detail: "The work at the mission is going on as usual. Never did I realize the terrible condition of society as I do to-day; and never was I so thankful for the blessings of home and friends as I am now. The cases that come under our observation here are of the most heart-rending character. Here we find men of good talent, able to be useful in the world, and anxious to get work, in the most destitute condition. Here perhaps is a dentist or an oculist or a doctor who has not been favored by fortune. Do what they can, they can not get work. One man of noble principles came in the other night just as the door was being closed for the night. He had traveled eight miles begging for the price of a bed. He was no beggar by nature, and it cut him to the heart to beg. It took me some time to quiet him down, his feelings were so wrought up. By inquiry I found he had had a little piece of bread, and that was all during the whole day, yet I knew him to be a rustler, and willing to work at anything."