p. 10 | Untitled article by Morris Lukens

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 8, 1912

Australia—No. 1

By Morris Lukens

At every stop on our way from America to Australia, we were met and kindly entertained by some of our people. At Vancouver, from which port we sailed, Prof. K. R. Haughey, the principal of the Manson Industrial Academy, and E. R. Potter, field missionary agent of the British Columbia Conference, showed us many of the beautiful things to be seen in that city.

After spending seven days on the Pacific Ocean, we were much pleased to find Elder and Sister C. D. M. Williams awaiting us on our arrival at Honolulu, and we were soon made comfortable in their hospitable home, where we enjoyed the good dinner prepared in a healthful and homelike way.

Leaving Honolulu on Friday, Aug. 18, 1911, our next stopping-place was Suva, Fiji, where we arrived Monday, August 28. During these ten days we had cool, refreshing breezes, which made our journey while crossing the equator very pleasant.

When we landed at Fiji, we were met by Elder G. G. Stewart and three native teachers, who took us over to their mission station at Suva Vou in a rowboat. Here we first saw a native village, where we have about fifty Sabbath-keepers. The chief of this village, with his wife, is now rejoicing in this message, and is one of our teachers there.

One can not but be impressed by the extreme friendliness of these natives. Their countenances are expressive of happiness and peace, and they greatly love the missionaries who have brought to them the light of the gospel.

Elder Stewart and his wife had just returned from a trip among the islands, and during the month they were away, Sister Stewart had not seen one white woman. How little we know the sacrifices that enter into a missionary's life!

Not many years ago the inhabitants of this fair isle were cannibals in the very worst sense of the word; even now, there are living among our own people persons who well remember those dark days, and who themselves have eaten human flesh. With the entrance of the Word of God a flood of light has penetrated the dense darkness that so long enshrouded this group of islands, and many lives have been transformed. We have about four hundred Sabbath-keepers on these islands.

We arrived in Sydney, Australia, Monday, September 4. The next day the union conference council convened. As the seasons here are just the reverse from what they are in America, this was spring-time; and it was pleasant indeed to be surrounded by flowers of every description, and by orange and mandarin groves laden with fruit, as was the case in Wahroonga, a suburb of Sydney, where our sanitarium and union conference offices are located. Among these beautiful surroundings our union conference council was held.

Then came a visit to the Avondale school, where Prof. B. F. Machlan and his corps of teachers are instructing two hundred seventy-five students to become missionaries in the great island mission field belonging to this union conference.

After spending about two weeks at the Avondale school, where it was my privilege to address the students many times, we were asked to assist at the New South Wales camp-meeting, held at Newcastle, in that state. Much of the presence of the Lord was felt at this meeting. From the first, the Spirit of God was manifest in the camp. A large number came forward at the revival services of both Sabbaths, seeking to obtain victories over besetting sins, and praying earnestly for ability to lead a better life, and live nearer to God.

The reports from the various departments and from the laborers during this meeting, showed progress.

MORRIS LUKENS.