Newspaper Work in Albany, N. Y.
By E. L. Cardey
A FEW weeks ago we reported through the REVIEW from this place relative to the favorable notice we were receiving from the newspapers in regard to our tent-meetings. Since that report a number15of very interesting things have happened in our work here. The leading daily paper of Albany continued to publish the sermons until after the Sabbath question was dealt with, then political matters became so intense in this State, and especially in this city, that the papers printed scarcely anything but politics. However, the sermons that appeared every day for over a month in this large daily, published our work everywhere in the city. People of all classes were attracted to the meetings. At the close of six weeks' meetings upward of twenty-five men and women had taken their stand for the Sabbath. Among those who had been attracted to the tent by the extensive advertising are some very promising individuals, who finally accepted the truth. One man who holds an excellent position with the American Express Company, took his stand at once, as did also his wife. He is able to retain his position and keep the Sabbath and also to do work on Sunday in the general offices here. Another man who, with his wife, accepted the truth holds a good position on the D. & H. R. R. as train despatcher. They were spiritually minded people, and when the Sabbath truth came to them they at once saw its importance and its claims upon them. At the first opportunity they signed the covenant. The same week this man took his stand for the truth he received a promotion and a large increase in salary. Then the great test came to him; it seemed impossible for him to keep his new position and keep the Sabbath. He had spent his life in the service, coming up to the very promotion that now came to him. Indeed it was a great struggle for them to decide whether they would keep the Sabbath and very possibly lose this good position. We thank God that in that struggle Jesus was very near, and in prayer the battle was fought and won. In a few days he made arrangement to have a private talk with the superintendent. We all prayed very earnestly before he went to have the interview, for many others were in the balance, scarcely having faith enough to believe that God would look after their work and feed them. In about an hour this brother returned with a smiling face, and said, "The Lord was there before me and had it all fixed up." So he continues his work and keeps the Sabbath. This experience has proved a great blessing to others, as many have heard of this victory. The climax of our work in the tent came about two weeks ago, when we began a series of lectures on "Will Rome Rule America?" At the first lecture about four hundred people came out, among them Lieutenant-Governor Glynn's secretary (Mr. Glynn is a Catholic and a Knight of Columbus), a number of reporters, a Catholic priest, and many other Catholics. The Times-Union, Mr. Glynn's Albany evening paper, sent a man who took down the sermon verbatim. This lecture caused a great stir in the city, and a certain strong Catholic paper demanded of the sheriff that the tent be closed forthwith. In its editorials such statements as this were made, "The man who attacks another man's religion has no right in this free country." We were on county property, and although we had a lease on the ground our tent was forcibly closed. We began meetings the following night in our own new church building, which is located near the center of the city and will seat nearly four hundred people. This attack upon the lectures by this paper and by a public official has stirred the deep-thinking people of this city, and people from every direction, as individuals and organizations, have thrown their interests with us and attend the meetings and distribute literature. Among these are the Guardians of Liberty, etc. This week two pastors of large churches sent me word that they are interested in the issue and are going to attend the lectures during the week. Our church committee has published a tract setting forth the facts in the case in the forcible closing of the tent, and a part of the sermon on Sunday night, August 31. The interested public gave the money with which to print this leaflet. We feel that the opportunity is here for us to make a great strike for the truth, not only in this capital city, but through the entire State. Pray for the work here that God may lead in the crisis we are now going through. Any one wishing to get a copy of the tract above referred to may obtain the same by addressing the writer and enclosing a two-cent stamp.
E. L. CARDEY.
29 Second St., Albany, N. Y.