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In the City of "Brotherly Love"

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 11, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 24.

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In the City of "Brotherly Love"

By J. S. Washburn

AFTER having labored in the South, especially in the cities of Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., for several years, I left Memphis Aug. 12, 1913, to take up work in Philadelphia, Pa. At the time of my arrival a most interesting tent meeting was in progress, conducted by Elder R. E. Harter and his coworkers. Shortly after I came to this city, Elder Harter went to Washington, D. C., to take the presidency of the District of Columbia Conference.
Tent meetings closed the last of September. A goodly number took their stand for the truth, and many others were much interested and have since accepted the message.
The closing night of the tent services we received a generous contribution from a gentleman and his wife, whom we found, on visiting them, to be members of the Roman Catholic Church. They were most cordial and friendly; and while still attending the Catholic services and holding quite strongly to that belief, they bought a Protestant Bible, and we enjoyed some most interesting Bible studies with them. They have since removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., but we are certain that the time must come that the seed sown will bear fruit.
Sister Poch and others here have found a number of Catholics much interested, and we have been most anxiously studying how we may wisely teach them the solemn truths of this message, that we may win them to the truth of God. Surely there has never been a time when the workers in the large cities with large Catholic populations, needed more wisdom and caution and more of God's tender, winning Spirit to reach sincere and honest Roman Catholics than today. Pray that our city workers may have this divine, winning wisdom.
Shortly after the close of the tent meetings, we began to hold special meetings to help each member of the church to become a worker in the cause of God. These meetings have been specially blessed, and have been intensely interesting and profitable.
We have an excellent church building in one of the best locations in this city. The population of Philadelphia is approaching two million. Of this number about six hundred thousand live in West Philadelphia; and this section of this great city is one of the most remarkable settlements of middle-class people, easy to be reached and susceptible to the truth, that I have ever seen in any large city, either in this country or in Great Britain, since I began city work in Washington, D. C., in the year 1890. We believe that the Lord will bring many more out of the darkness of error into the eternal light of truth in the city of "Brotherly Love."
There was a debt of $4,600 on the church building, which meant a heavy load of interest for the church to pay. We have begun an earnest effort to lift this burden, and the church has already paid several hundred dollars of the indebtedness, and is planning to continue this effort until we shall be free to do the great work that God has called us to do in this city.
Sabbath, May 23, was a day of blessing to the West Philadelphia church. Fifteen persons were baptized, two of these by Elder O. F. Schwedrat. One, a German sister, will unite with the German church; and twelve will unite with the West Philadelphia church. Two were rebaptized who were already members of the church. One sister who was baptized began keeping the Sabbath one Friday night after hearing her first Seventh-day Adventist sermon. It is sometimes true that those who accept the truth very quickly are not stable, but this sister has steadily grown in her Christian experience in the truth since the closing of the tent meetings last September. We know that God can sometimes do a very quick work, and yet that work stand the test. Surely the time must soon come when through all the world the Lord will do a quick work, and "cut it short in righteousness."
It was truly touching to see four members of one family go down into the water together,—an engineer, his wife, son, and daughter. This is a family of true workers. There were other most interesting cases. Two came from the Roman Catholic Church. One of them, a sister who had been seeking light for many years, rejoices that she has now come into the light of the third angel's message. One brother, an Italian, comes directly from the Catholic Church, and is hoping to bring others of his relatives and his nation into the truth. He is working now with one of the most influential Italians in Philadelphia, who was a priest when living in Italy, but is now a doctor.
The presence of the Lord was manifest in a marked manner at the baptismal service, which was, in some respects, the most helpful and encouraging one in which I have ever taken part, or have witnessed.
Our regular Bible study to help all the members of the church to become workers for souls is held each Friday evening, when some church member—a different one each week—gives a fifteen-minute Bible reading. About thirty-five have given most acceptable Bible readings; and they enjoy greatly the earnest study to make themselves perfectly familiar with the Word of God, that they may be able to use the sword of the Spirit wisely and skillfully in this great conflict.
We are also having good results from our singing service, which is held every Monday night. We have an excellent prayer meeting every Wednesday night, and a church business meeting every month.
A large number from this church will attend the camp meeting at Allentown, Pa., June 18-28; and we are hoping for a most successful tent effort after the camp meeting closes.
Sister Poch is enjoying an excellent interest in her Bible work, and is rejoiced to see many turning to the truth with all their hearts.
During the last winter we sought to set before the church the great importance of the spirit of prophecy, simplicity in dress, and the blessed, old-fashioned, ever-new truths of the greatest message that God ever sent to men. We are sure that the final and glorious outpouring of the Spirit of God will come from the study of and obedience to the Testimonies of the Holy Spirit. "Even as the testimony of Christ [that is, the spirit of prophecy] was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 1:6, 7.
Pray for the work in this great city, which, with other cities in the eastern part of this country, has been specially mentioned by the spirit of prophecy.
J. S. WASHBURN.