CHEERING REPORTS FROM MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD—SUCCESS ATTENDS THE EFFORTS TO TELL ALL NATIONS THAT JESUS IS COMING SOON
CHEERING REPORTS FROM MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD — SUCCESS ATTENDS THE EFFORTS TO TELL ALL NATIONS THAT JESUS IS COMING SOON
Brother A. F. Prieger tells of a visit to a little settlement on the top of one of the high mountains of the West Indies, where he found that the brethren had leveled the ground on the peak and were erecting a little church. While there he organized the company into a church of thirty-three members. He also visited Port de Paix, where he baptized nine; and a little later, at Grande Riviere, baptized nineteen. At Hincha, where several Protestant churches have been unsuccessful in their efforts to gain a foothold, one of our native laborers held a course of meetings, and as a result Brother Prieger baptized six, and organized a Sabbath-school.
Sixty-four baptisms are reported from the state of Wyoming during the past two years. Besides this, sixteen new believers have taken their stand since the camp-meeting last August. For this same length of time west Kansas reports 192 additions, east Colorado 398, Iowa 176, and Minnesota 375. In the latter conference there have been four churches organized, and two new buildings dedicated. As a result of evangelistic efforts in Minneapolis, eighty persons have been baptized. In Arizona seventy-two souls were baptized during the past year, and fifty more new believers are reported. The Tennessee River Conference reports 118 baptisms for the year.
The quarterly report of the European Division for the third quarter of 1913 shows the baptism of 1,252 believers, twenty-two of whom are in Egypt. This number, added to the number of those baptized during this same quarter in North America, makes a total of 3,059 baptisms during the one quarter in these two fields. Surely this is a token of the power that is attending the preaching of God's message, and will cheer the hearts of all those who are loyal to His word.
Forty-nine believers were baptized, and a church of fifty members was organized, at Dok Jong Kore, Seoul, Korea, where is the headquarters of our work in that field. At Soonan six more were baptized. At this place three new buildings,—a chapel, a girls' dormitory, and a new dispensary,—have recently been constructed. These were built from the thirteenth Sabbath offering of the Sabbath-schools of this country for the first quarter of 1913. Sixteen others, in various parts of Korea, have accepted the binding claims of God's law.
From a statistical report recently issued by the General Conference, we extract the following items concerning the work in North America:
Elder Westrup, speaking to the brethren assembled at a recent general meeting at Honan, China, stated that "in Germany, Russia, and England, every worker gained ten persons on an average for the Master last year, and in Siberia every worker gained seventeen believers." If every believer in the173message should become an active worker, how long would it take to evangelize the world, and thus hasten the fulfilment of the Master's promise?
Elder B. C. and Mrs. Haak and family sailed early in February for Buenos Aires, South America, he to take the presidency of the Argentine Conference. About the same time, Brother W. M. and Mrs. Crothers sailed for Jamaica, West Indies. Brother Crothers goes at his own expense, to seek a climate more favorable for his health, yet they hope to find many opportunities for service in missionary lines.
Brother B. L. Anderson writes from Amoy, Fukien, China, that on his last trip into the interior he found a splendid opening, where eighty-nine people enrolled their names to signify their faith and their willingness to obey the truth. At a general meeting held in Fatshan, near Canton, Dr. Law Keem was ordained to the gospel ministry, and twenty-two candidates were baptized. At the Hakka workers' meeting three received this rite.
In the Victoria-Tasmania Conference, during the past year 101 were baptized. At Bendigo, in that field, four were recently added to the church, and others will be ready for baptism soon. Twelve have been baptized at Hobart. Twelve in the vicinity of Bairnsdale and Cunninghame, five at Colac, and eight at Richmond are rejoicing in the light of the message.
School work commenced on December 7 in the China training-school, toward the building of which readers of the SIGNS contributed. On January 1 there were fifty-eight students in attendance,—forty-two boys and sixteen girls. Our readers will join us in the wish that these students may develop into strong, efficient soul-winners for the Master.
Elder E. K. Slade, president of the Ohio Conference, says that during the month of January over sixty were baptized and received into the churches of Ohio. A short time ago ten Rumanians were baptized, and they hope soon to organize a Rumanian church. Thirty-five of the students of Mount Vernon College were baptized.
The following interesting report comes from the Gold Coast, Africa: "A few months ago a Catholic family of four embraced the third angel's message, and since the last special week of prayer, the number of Sabbath-keepers here increased from thirty-six to sixty-seven. All around us in the whole coast are idol-worshipers."
Brother Herbert J. Edmed, in writing of the work in the Cape Conference, South Africa, tells of fifteen candidates at various places who are awaiting baptism. The number of students baptized during the past year at the college in Cape Town is eleven. At another school thirty-five have joined the class for baptism.
At the first annual session of the North Hungarian Mission, held at Kassa, three persons declared their desire to unite with us. The first three quarters' report shows thirty-one gained by baptism and vote. In the Theiss-Save Mission, Hungary, fifty-one were received into the church by baptism during 1913.
A new paper, issued in the Chasu language, has just been started in German East Africa, bearing the title Mirikizi, which means The Evangelist. The Pare Mission reports the baptism of 133 persons during the year.
Brother L. V. Finster baptized ten believers at Binacaya, Philippine Islands, early in December, fruitage of the labors of a native evangelist. Another church has been organized in the Philippines. A new chapel, the first church building to be erected in the Philippines, has just been completed at Maloloo.
At a recent baptismal service in Pisa, Italy, over ten thousand persons gathered on the banks of the river Arno to witness this service. Among them were many priests. Thirteen believers were baptized during the past year in this stronghold of the papacy.
Elder K. C. Russell tells of visiting a camp-meeting in Manitoba, Canada, where he learned of a whole church that had been brought into the truth as a result of one person's having bought a copy of "Great Controversy."
Brother G. A. Hamilton, who left California for Burma about one year ago, and has been laboring for some time in Rangun, reports the baptism of four candidates, and says two more converts will be baptized later.
Eight individuals at Roma, Queensland, and three at Terrors Creek, are walking in obedience to the truth. Twenty-six have been baptized in the Queensland Conference since their camp-meeting in October.
At the general meeting for the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, which was held in Serro Pellado, six persons were buried in baptism. At this place also a church school with thirty-four pupils was organized.
Twelve persons who stepped out into the light of the truth during the session of the Transylvanian Conference, which convened at Nagy-Szeben (Hermannstadt), were baptized at the Sabbath service.
Elder C. B. Stephenson reports encouragingly of the work in the Southeastern Union Conference. During the past two years 768 persons were received into the church in that field.
Elder Kuniya recently baptized two believers in the ocean at Kagoshima, Japan. Sabbath, December 6, a new church was dedicated at Kuji-machi, free from debt.
Nine souls at Wellington, New Zealand, recently received baptism. Eighteen in Ponsonby have also received this rite, and three at the Oroua missionary school.
Seven souls in Babumohal, India, and three in Calcutta, recently received baptism. During the past year fourteen were added to the church in Calcutta by baptism.
Fourteen new believers were baptized in Iceland during the last year, and a meeting-house has been built in Reikiavik, the capital city.
During the past few months twenty-two new members have been added to the faith in Ireland, and others are awaiting baptism.
Elder Frank S. Bond, of Barcelona, Spain, baptized twelve in that field during the third quarter of 1913.
News comes from Java of three souls in the country having taken their stand for the message.
Ten souls in Iman, Siberia, were recently baptized, and have been organized into a church.
Four souls in Singapore, East Indies, were buried in baptism on Sunday, December 7.
At Quirindi, New South Wales, five have taken their stand to obey the truth.
Besides the foregoing, we note the baptism of 394 persons in this country, 71 reported as added to church-membership, and 389 conversions. Three churches have been erected, six dedicated, nine church organizations effected, and six Sabbath-schools organized.
Elder D. T. Shireman announces that his address is changed from Hickory, North Carolina, to Route 1, Morganton, North Carolina. All mail for him or his wife, Nellie M. Shireman, should in future be addressed to the latter place.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH RECENTLY ERECTED AT ALBANY, NEW YORK
