Maryland by F. W. Paap

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 25, 1913

Maryland

By F. W. Paap

BALTIMORE.—Immediately after the close of the General Conference the writer, with Brother L. A. Froom, began a search for a suitable place on which to pitch a tent for the season's work. We sought God earnestly to guide in the matter, and as a result we were soon in touch with the right spot.

This city, like most others, has a number of rather arbitrary requirements to be complied with before permission can be secured to pitch a tent for religious meetings. One of these is that the signatures of all living in the immediate vicinity must be secured. So, after writing a short preamble to our application paper, we lost no time in getting the signatures, all of which were freely granted. We paid the rent for the ground, and two days after passing in our application, we received permission to go ahead.

Early Monday morning, July 7, we were on the ground with our tent and outfit. Just as the last rope was being tied, the city building inspector arrived and informed us that strong objections were being made against our pitching the tent. After a few moments' conversation we learned that the objectors were six of the Protestant ministers, and many of their congregations. Soon after we had made our application they lodged a protest. Their objections were based on the contention that we did not preach the gospel. The inspector asked us to wait until Thursday and see what would develop. We told him this was out of the question, as we had received word from the city authorities "to go ahead," and our meetings were advertised to open Friday night. He left us after getting a short, straight talk on the principles of religious liberty.

We went right ahead with our work of preparation, and on Thursday we made application for the electric lights to be put in and connected, but this was withheld on account of the protest. The enemy was determined to prevent us, but we took the matter to God in prayer. Early Friday morning we were impressed to get advice from a lawyer here in the city who has been attending our meetings and is very much interested in our work. As soon as we told him the situation, he said, "It will be all right, Mr. Paap. I know the inspector personally." He kindly offered to go with us to see the city solicitor, and after a few words and another opportunity of presenting a few of the principles of religious liberty to the city authority, we had the whole things arranged, and the evening papers came out with heavy head-lines: "The Seventh-Day Adventists Win Out in Spite of the Protests of the Protestant Ministers." This all worked out for our good, causing a deeper interest and giving us larger congregations. To God be the glory. Satan is a defeated foe. He is wroth with the church, but his wrath and opposition have helped rather than hindered.

During our eight weeks of steady meetings in the tent, and our visits from house to house, the angels of God have gone before us. The interest and attendance have been good from the first.

Sunday, September 7, nine went forward in the solemn ordinance of baptism, in Gwynn Oak Park. This gave us an excellent opportunity to come in touch with a large number. The united electric railways placed cards announcing the baptism, on the front of the cars for two days, and we also advertised in the papers, and as a result about four thousand persons gathered at the park. The manager of the park erected a platform out in the water about fifty feet from the shore, and decorated it with green branches. Brother Froom and wife, Miss Sheirich, our organist, Brother Barrat with his oboe, and Mrs. Paap and I rowed out in small boats to the platform. After singing several special songs and also several good old familiar gospel hymns, I addressed the people for about twenty minutes on the subject of baptism. It was indeed a beautiful sight to see the people as they joined in the singing. There was perfect order and respect shown on the part of all assembled.

Quite a number that have begun keeping the Sabbath are satisfied with their former baptism. We are not urging them to be rebaptized, for we have always found that those who embrace this truth become dissatisfied, in a short time, with their former baptism and desire to begin again the new life in Christ. Ten will be ready for baptism at the close of the camp-meeting, and possibly others who are now halting will be ready by that time. These mentioned, however, represent but a tithe of those who have shown a deepening interest and are convinced that this is God's message for the hour.

At the close of the series of meetings we asked for an expression from those that were convinced of the truth and were determined to be on the winning side and go through with God's remnant people. Fully three hundred stood up, besides our own people who were present. If all would be loyal and true to their convictions, we should indeed have a good harvest of souls. We regard them as very good material with which to work, and our Bible workers are kept busy visiting and studying with them in their homes.

At the baptismal service thousands of tracts, with the address of our new church stamped on them, were placed in the hands of those in attendance. We are glad we have a church to which to invite the people. The church is located about nine blocks from where we had the tent pitched. We have made a special effort to reach the people, thousands of whom are unable to get to the tent. On our four-page weekly circular (6½ by 9½ inches) we have had one whole page devoted to a synopsis of the previous week's subjects. This has been read by many, who have thus picked up a few fragments of truth.

We are of good courage. Our confidence was never greater in the ultimate triumph of this great message, and by the Lord's grace we mean to triumph with it. With a church to which to invite the people, and with regular meetings and house-to-house work, we hope by God's help to win many of the interested ones to the truth. Pray for the work and workers in the city of Baltimore.

F. W. PAAP.