The Work in Maine by S. N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 25, 1914

The Work in Maine

By S. N. Haskell

THERE are omens for good in the State of Maine. It was in Portland that God united the spirit of prophecy with the Sabbath reform. In this city Sister White had her first vision and was called to her life work by the Lord.

The motto of the State of Maine is Dirigo,—I direct, or guide,—and she has surely fulfilled her motto in the temperance work. This State is also the birthplace of the message. In 1851 prohibition was first adopted in Maine, and in 1858 it became a permanent law. The influence of Maine in temperance has directed and guided the whole world. A strong effort was made by the liquor party to defeat prohibition in this State during the summer of 1911; and if the Seventh-day Adventists from Maine to California had not responded loyally to the call of the hour and furnished the means to scatter broadcast over the State over fifty thousand Temperance Instructors, Maine would in all probability have lost her prohibitory law. Both our friends and our foes gave Seventh-day Adventist literature the honor of saving the prohibitory law in Maine.

The year following, large quantities of our temperance literature were circulated throughout the State; and in the autumn, a Prohibition governor was elected, and a temperance majority secured in both houses of the legislature. This victory placed the Seventh-day Adventists on vantage ground, and won the respect of the temperance people. In the Interdenominational Home Missionary Convention last February, conducted by the leading churches in Portland, they appointed a Seventh-day Adventist to give the opening address in the convention.

Maine leads in more than temperance work; it is one of the greatest summer resorts in the world. Casco Bay contains three hundred and sixty-five islands; many of the larger ones are covered with hotels and summer cottages, while some of the smaller islands are owned by wealthy men for summer homes. Commodore Peary has one fitted up for his summer residence. Another small island has recently been purchased by a multimillionaire, and he is intending to expend one hundred thousand dollars this summer in building his home and beautifying the island.

Penobscot Bay is also filled with islands, which are fast being covered with summer homes. Throughout the State are many beautiful lakes, and nestled among the trees on the shore are hundreds of cottages which are filled each summer with those who have fled from the heat of the crowded cities for a rest amid the beauties of nature.

Maine is not separated from the rest of the country by a stretch of desert and a range of mountains, like Southern California; but it is near the great crowded cities of the East. One dollar will transport by boat the weary toiler from busy Boston to the refreshing air of Casco Bay, while the best of automobile roads connect Maine with all the great cities of the East and the Middle West. Hundreds of thousands of tourists spend either a few weeks or a few months in Maine every summer, hence it is one of the greatest missionary centers in the United States.

Last winter, series of meetings were held in both South Portland and North Deering, and meetings were also conducted

in the church building in Portland. As a result of these efforts, several persons became Sabbath keepers.

Beginning the last part of April, Elder F. C. Gilbert conducted a three weeks' series of meetings in the Pythian Temple, one of the best halls in Portland. An excellent class of people listened to the truth presented clearly in the Temple, who would not have come to our church. A large number gave their names and addresses that they might be visited, and a goodly number arose to their feet the last Sunday evening, expressing their determination to obey the Lord. Elder A. E. Sanderson joined Elder Gilbert during the last of the meetings, and is following up the interest.

Elder Sanderson, assisted by Brother Knight, a young minister formerly of the Free Baptist Church, who lately began keeping the Sabbath in Clinton, Maine, is conducting a series of meetings in Portland this summer.

Last winter we distributed a large quantity of tracts in Portland; thousands of pages were lent, sold, and given away. Also through the kindness of friends several hundred copies of the weekly Signs of the Times have been sent to selected addresses in the city during the winter. Free reading racks, placed in the union station, the island steamship and ferry waiting rooms, and other places in the city, are kept filled with tracts and papers. The workers are preparing to use a large quantity of tracts this summer.

Ever since the beginning of the message, there has been a company of believers in Portland; but for over sixty years after the remnant church was established, there was no church building in this city to represent our work. During that sixty years, the work has encircled the earth, and has been presented in many foreign cities. Memorials for God have been erected that properly represent the work; but in the birthplace of the message there was nothing to represent it. Five years ago, through the encouragement of Sister White, the Portland brethren erected a house of worship. They walked out by faith, because they felt it would not be right to leave the city any longer without a memorial for the Lord.

In an article published in the REVIEW AND HERALD, May 18, 1911, Sister White says: "It is right that there should be a commodious house of worship in the city of Portland. Our brethren there have done well in securing a piece of land favorably situated between the business part of the city and the great park called 'Deerings' Oaks.' While I was in Portland, I saw the beginning that had been made on their church building,—the first meetinghouse to be erected in that city by Seventh-day Adventists. I encouraged the brethren to go ahead with the work of building as rapidly as possible. . . . Portland has been especially pointed out as a place that should be labored for without delay. This city has been especially noticed by the God of Israel; should we not unite our efforts to have there a house of worship that is worthy of the notice of the people? I invite our churches throughout the States to lend a helping hand. . . . We ask you in the name of the Lord to do what you can."

The brethren and sisters have done well in giving of their means; but the church membership is small, and none are blessed with much of this world's goods. They have built a neat, commodious house of worship. When we went to Portland last autumn, we found that there was a mortgage of $3,000 on the church, held by persons not of our faith, and besides this there was $3,800 due on personal notes. It was impossible for the church to pay the interest on this sum, and the conference had to pay almost as much interest annually as would support a worker in the field. With their very limited resources, this was a heavy burden.

Last October the following plan was devised: Different persons agreed to pay for a certain quantity of books if the brethren would take them and place the price of the books on the church debt. Over one thousand books valued at $1.50 each have been taken by the brethren and sisters in Maine. They paid one dollar each for the books if they took a quantity, and $1.50 each if only one or two books were taken. A number of the brethren and sisters took fifty books each; they were thus able to place fifty dollars on the debt, and also receive some compensation for the time they spent selling the books. Three things were accomplished by this plan,—the truth was placed in the hands of the people, our brethren were encouraged to do missionary work, and those who bought the books helped pay for the meetinghouse.

The Maine brethren have sacrificed and given liberal cash contributions. One brother gave $800, a sister gave $500, while others gave smaller amounts. We mention this to let all see that the Maine brethren are doing all in their power to help lift the debt. They are not blessed with as much of this world's goods as many of our people in other States.

Through the sale of the books and cash donations, $2,400 has been paid on the $3,000 mortgage, leaving $540 still due on the mortgage, besides the personal notes. There is about $200 due from various members, on books and pledges, which will soon be paid. Another individual has promised to pay $500 sometime in the autumn. When this all comes in, it will still leave a very heavy debt on the Portland church.

While all should feel a deep interest in the work in foreign lands, yet all who love the truth should be interested in having a suitable memorial for God in the birthplace of the message. Our brethren in Maine should not be left to struggle alone under this heavy debt. In the words already quoted, "We ask you in the name of the Lord to do what you can." Any money sent to the writer's address (South Lancaster, Mass.), or to the Maine Tract Society, 75 Grant St., Portland, Maine, will be paid directly on the debt. Please state plainly, when sending money, that it is to be applied on the debt of the Portland church.

S. N. HASKELL.