Progress of the Message in Chile
THE following extracts are taken from Elder F. H. Westphal's address at the session of the Chile Conference recently held in Santiago:— "I can say with Samuel, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.' We have plain evidence that the Lord has been in the work from the beginning in Chile. "About eighteen years have passed since the first laborers came to this country from the United States. They labored under great difficulties, yet from the very first the Lord gave success to his cause. Brother F. W. Bishop is with us still, helping to forward the work in its present stage. Brother Thomas Davis worked faithfully until the time of his death, Nov. 28, 1911. With the banner of truth in his hands, and with a profound interest until the end, he died in the first line of battle. He was director of the colporteur work. We believe Brother Davis will be in the kingdom to meet his loved ones, and that his crown will contain many bright stars to make it beautiful. "According to the treasurer's report, there was a gain last year in tithe of $520, and in Sabbath-school offerings of $270. "The membership has increased during the past year, so that now we have 463 church-members [394 members being reported in 1910]. "We praise the Lord for the prosperity that has attended us. Now we need to attack the enemy with more energy. There are left Conception, Valdivia, Punta Arenas, Nutafagasta, and many other cities that need to be evangelized with the message of the third angel. "The colporteurs have worked with courage, and have covered a large territory. They have placed many thousands of pages of books, papers, and tracts in the hands of the people. The preachers have worked without ceasing to plant the truth among the people. The members of the churches are firm in the faith, and are gaining souls for the Saviour. "Our school at Pua has also had a year of prosperity. Fifty-seven were enrolled during the past year. The school had to be closed two months on account of smallpox, but only two students had the disease."