Earlier text: Battle Creek CollegeThree Scandinavian Conferences
with one hundred pupils in attendance. At this institute thorough instruction in the canvassing work was given. Six years later, 1895, we notice a report given by Elder D. A. Robinson, then the district superintendent of the foreign field, which shows so clearly a marked growth in the work during this period of that time that we quote as follows: “Scandinavia has forty churches, and 1,458 members. The year’s tithe was $5,585.55. There are fifteen ordained ministers, eleven licentiates, and the book sales for the year amount to $40,000. This large amount is principally due to the efforts of the canvassers, and that, too, in a country where, in 1885, booksellers, and even ministers of our faith, affirmed that selling books by canvassing could not be done.” In the Scandinavian field there are at the present time three conferences, the dates of organization being as follows: Denmark, May 30, 1880; Sweden, March 12, 1882; Norway, June 10, 1887. Elder John Matteson, who first opened the Scandinavian Mission and pioneered the work so successfully, and who labored so earnestly and sacrificingly for the prosperity of that people, was stricken with that fatal disease, consumption, and died in El Monte, Cal., March 30, 1896, aged sixty-one years. William Ings, a native of Hampshire, England, but an American in spirit and education, having lived in the United States from boyhood, reached Southampton, from Basel, Switzerland, May 23, 1878. At this time his stay was brief, being only two weeks, when he returned to the Continent for a short time. Soon afterward, however, he again went to Southampton, where, after four months of house-to-house labor418distributing tracts and doing such missionary work as presented itself, he reported ten keeping the Sabbath. December 30 of that year, myself and my wife arrived at Southampton, where our labors were united with those of Elder Ings, in holding meetings during the winter in Shirley Hall, and in our own hired house. In the summer of 1879, we held tent-meetings at Southampton. At this time and place Miss Maud Sisley (now Mrs. Boyd) connected with the work, giving Bible readings and doing house-to-house labor. As a result of this effort, several embraced the truth. In the following winter we held meetings in a hall in Ravenswood Villa, the building in which we lived and had our depository. In the summer of 1880, Elder Andrews, though feeble in health, came from Switzerland to assist in a tent-meeting at Romsey, where other persons embraced the message. Jan. 11, 1880, a tract society was organized. In this work the members were much interested, and much literature was distributed. Feb. 8, 1880, our first baptism occurred and was administered to six candidates. Up to July 2, 1881, twenty-nine candidates had been immersed at Southampton. Laborers Increased in England
By vote of the General Conference held in the autumn of 1881, Elder A. A. John and his wife, Geo. R. Drew, and Miss Jennie Thayer went to England, and connected with the work in that mission field. During the year 1882, Elder Haskell visited the European field, and spent a number of days with the workers in the English mission, rendering valuable help by way of counsel and advice. In March, 1882, a two-page British supplement to the Signs of the Times began to be printed, and was attached to one thousand copies of the Signs which were sent from419America. These were used in the missionary work in Great Britain. A report of the work, Oct. 1, 1883, shows that there were at that date one hundred Sabbath-keepers. The tithes paid from the opening of the mission, were $2,078.71. Through the courtesy of the ship keepers, Elder Ings was permitted to send packages of tracts and papers free to eighty of the principal ports of the “Peninsular and Oriental Steam Ship Company,” in South Africa, East and West Indies, Central America, and the Bay Islands. It was through the influence of the reading matter thus sent, that the interest was first awakened in the island of Demarara. This information we received through letters from the island. “History of the Sabbath” Placed in English Libraries
A copy of Elder Andrews’s “History of the Sabbath” had also been placed in sixty of the public libraries and free reading-rooms throughout Great Britain, and there the books are still, telling the story to those willing to read. In 1884 Elder Butler visited England, accompanied by other laborers for this field. Elders S. H. Lane and Robert Andrews sailed from Boston to join the mission in Great Britain May 9, 1885. The visit of Mrs. White to England was a source of strength and encouragement to the workers. Mrs. White and her son spent a few weeks there before their return to America from the European field. In the early part of 1884, soon after Elder Butler’s arrival in England, it was decided to begin at Grimsby, with M. C. Wilcox as editor, an eight-page semi-monthly paper, called the Present Truth. The same is now being published as a sixteen-page weekly at London, England, with a weekly issue of some 18,000 copies. In 1889, Elder Holser reported the British Mission as consisting of eight churches, with two hundred Sabbath-keepers, of whom sixty-five were in London. The tithe for the previous year was $1,244.58. There were two ordained ministers, two licentiates, two ship missionaries, and seven Bible workers. It was about this time that Elders Wm. Hutchinson and Francis Hope entered the English mission. The Pacific Press in London
During the year 1890 the Pacific Press Publishing Company, of Oakland, California, established a branch office at 48 Paternoster Row, London, and a printing office at 451 Holloway Road, London, N. The book sales from the office for the first year, at wholesale prices, were $9,556.89. In February, 1895, Elder Robinson rendered the following report: “In Great Britain there are eleven churches, 363 members, five ministers, and one licentiate. The tithe for the past year was $5,077.20, or an average of $13.98 per member. The property of the publishing office is now owned and managed by the International Tract Society, Limited, an English corporation.” In December, 1895, the Foreign Mission Secretary reported for Great Britain a membership of 560. The tithes had increased during the year $1,000. At that date, eight companies were meeting on the Sabbath at different places in London. Thus the work in this mission field advanced, at times almost imperceptibly. Seeds do not spring up in some kinds of soil as quickly as in others. Their germination is slower, but their growth is surer and hardier. So with the truth of the third message in this kingdom. Its seed has been sown, taken root, and grown slowly till now it has reached comparatively large proportions. May 10, 1885, Elders S. N. Haskell, J. O. Corliss and his family, M. C. Israel and his family, Wm. E. Arnold, and Henry Scott sailed from San Francisco to open a mission in the Australian field. Eleven years before this time, in 1874, at a meeting held in Battle Creek, Mrs. White said that many nations would yet receive the truth, and that she had seen printing presses running, and books and papers being printed in various countries. When asked to specify what countries were referred to, the reply was that Australia was the only name she could remember. Under the earnest and successful labors of Elder Haskell and company, the message was so rapidly advanced that the printing of a paper in Australia was deemed necessary. Accordingly, arrangements were made for publishing, and on Jan. 1, 1886, a sixteen-page monthly was issued at Melbourne, called the Bible Echo and Signs of the Times. Of the first number an edition of six thousand was printed, while the regular issue was only three thousand. First Church Organized in Australia
Sunday, April 10, 1886, the first Seventh-day Adventist church in Australia was organized. There were eighteen present who had signed the covenant, and seven others applied for admission by baptism. These were baptized the following Sabbath, and each Sabbath for a number of weeks members were added, until the church numbered fifty-five. Up to May, 1886, the entire number enrolled was ninety. Besides these, there were about thirty-five in other places who were keeping the Sabbath. In the printing office were two good presses and an engine, all paid for and owned by Seventh-day Adventists in that422far-distant land — about seven thousand miles from our large office located in Oakland, Cal. During 1886 the message extended to New Zealand. A report from the Australian field states that there were fifty Sabbath-keepers in New Zealand. The amount received from book sales at the office was $700. Besides this the canvassers had sold four hundred copies of “Great Controversy” in New Zealand, and one thousand copies of “Thoughts on Daniel” in Australia. Australian Office Building
From a report rendered July 19, 1889, we glean the following facts: A building for a printing office in Melbourne has been completed, containing a chapel for church services. A conference has been organized both in Australia and in New Zealand, and the work extended, by Elders Israel and Steed, to Tasmania. In the latter place three churches have already been organized, with an aggregate membership of one hundred and thirty-six. Besides these there are other scattered Sabbath-keepers not yet organized. The tithes for the year in the Australian field were $9,371. There were fifteen canvassers in the field, whose book sales amounted to $19,500. In Elder Haskell’s second trip around the world, he again visited Australia, attended their conference held in August, 1889, and in many ways rendered efficient aid, which was much appreciated by that newly organized company. Different workers from America have from time to time visited Australia in the interest of the one great cause—the upbuilding and strengthening of the work of God. In the fall of 1891, Mrs. E. G. White, her son, W. C. White, Elder Geo. B. Starr, and others left California for423Australia, arriving there in December — mid-summer in that continent. The testimony of Mrs. White, notwithstanding the bodily infirmity under which she labored during the nine years of her sojourn in that land, aided greatly in placing the work in a proper relation to the spirit and tenor of the third angel’s message. During the time they were in Australia Elder J. O. Corliss again connected with the work here, and W. A. Colcord and others entered the field as ministers, teachers, etc. During Elder O. A. Olsen’s administration as president of the General Conference, he visited all of our leading institutions throughout the length and breadth of the land. This required extensive travel—a trip around the world. This he took the better to acquaint himself with their needs and the condition of the various missions, that thus he might be prepared to serve them impartially. It was on this journey, in 1893, that he spent several weeks in Australia. Australasian Union Conference
During this time the Australasian Union Conference was organized, being composed of the Australian and New Zealand conferences and the Australian mission fields. This conference meets once in two years, and is conducted on the plan of the union conferences in other countries. During the year 1893 the few canvassers who were in this field sold an edition of 5,000 “Steps to Christ,” and a second edition of the same number was printed. In the summer of 1894-95, they took 4,000 orders for subscription books in four months. Elder Prescott in Australia
In 1895 Elder W. W. Prescott, the Educational Secretary of the denomination, spent a number of months in this conference, devoting much time and thought to this branch of the work. In the mean time he conducted an educational institute which was to them of great benefit. The report made to the General Conference of the work for the year was rendered by Elder W. C. White and is as follows: “The Australian Union Conference is composed of seventeen churches with 1074 members, who paid a tithe the previous year of $9,810.10. This conference has twelve ordained ministers, two licentiates, three Bible workers, and fifty canvassers, who sold during the year $28,731.11 worth of books. During the year the colony of New South Wales, with six churches, and 321 members, was separated from the Australian Conference, and named the New South Wales Conference.” At the General Conference held in Battle Creek in 1886, the question was considered of opening a mission in South Africa. As action was taken favoring the undertaking, with the opening summer of 1887 an effort was made to establish the work in that distant land, where a few, who had already begun to observe the Sabbath, were calling for laborers. Elders Boyd and Robinson in South Africa
For this purpose, on May 11, Elder C. L. Boyd and his family, Elder D. A. Robinson and his wife, with other workers, sailed from New York City, en route to Africa, by way of Liverpool and London. Three years later, at the General Conference, Mr. P. W. B. Wessels stated that when these laborers arrived in Africa there were about forty persons who were already observing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment as the result of reading publications on the subject and from the study of the Scriptures. Elders Robinson and Boyd began the mission work in Cape Town, and from there it extended northeast nearly eight hundred miles to Kimberley, in the diamond fields. Up to the year 1889, there were only two ministers, one licentiate, four churches, and eighty members; these paid a425tithe of $2,798.36. During this year Elder Ira J. Hankins, of America, labored in Cape Town with good results, and Mr. and Mrs. Druillard came from Nebraska to connect with the work at this place, and share in the labors and privations that fall upon those called to pioneer the work in a new field. Mrs. Druillard’s labors were confined principally to the book depository, where the business of this department was left to her management; while Mr. Druillard was occupied in the general missionary cause. During the year, on ships calling at this port, he sold books amounting to $750. It was in August of this same year that Elder Haskell arrived in Cape Town. Five months were well spent in visiting and laboring with the different companies in South Africa. By this visit the cause was strengthened and built up, and his own heart encouraged in that he saw fruit of his labor. An interest in the educational work was aroused, insomuch that twelve students from Africa came to America to attend our denominational schools. In the meantime the canvassing work received due consideration. An institute in the interest of this work was held in Cape Town, conducted by Mr. E. M. Morrison, which gave new life and energy to this important branch of the message. Immediately following the instruction given at this institute, thirteen canvassers, in six months, sold and delivered books to the amount of $5,621.28. In fact, so numerous were the orders that they completely “swamped” the London office, as books could not be prepared fast enough to meet the demand. In the year 1892, Elder A. T. Robinson connected with the work in South Africa. At that time the work had grown to that extent that a new depository was required to take the place of the old. Hence a new building was erected sufficiently large to furnish room for meetings of the church. College Building in Africa
Thus the work has continued to advance step by step, until at Claremont, a suburb of Cape Town, a college building was erected costing $35,000. The only help desired of the American brethren was to send a force of teachers qualified to teach a college course, and they themselves would meet the expense. This request being complied with, the school opened Feb. 1, 1893. The South African Conference
The South African Conference was organized in 1892. At the General Conference in 1893 it was voted into the General Conference. It then had five churches, one hundred and thirty-eight members, who paid a tithe the previous year of $34,077.32. At this conference the South African Conference was represented by Peter Wessels, who generously donated to the General Conference $16,000, this being more than the General Conference had expended in opening up the work in South Africa. In addition to this gift, he and one of his brothers donated $40,000 to begin the free dispensary work in the city of Chicago. At the General Conference in 1895 the Foreign Mission Secretary said of the African field: “The conference in South Africa has been organized but two years, but in that time the General Conference has sent into that field twelve workers. Two of these have gone into the interior as self-supporting missionaries, while the others have entered the work in various departments. That conference has a flourishing school, an orphans’ home, and a sanitarium in process of erection. The statistics show their membership as 184.” Papers Published in South Africa
The subject of religious liberty in South Africa has aroused our people in the last few months to publish two papers, one in the Holland language, called De Wachter; the South African Union Conference
other in English, called The South African Sentinel and Gospel Echo. The latter has a circulation of 4,000. In January, 1903, the South African Union Conference was organized, consisting of the Cape Colony and Natal-Transvaal conferences, and Basutoland and Matabeleland missions under the control of the Union Conference. In the conference there are fifteen organized churches with 595 members, nine unorganized companies of ninety members, and thirty isolated Sabbath-keepers,—a total of 715, who paid a tithe of $7,850. There were thirty-nine laborers, of whom twenty-one were on the pay-roll of the various conferences. In the year 1876, Elder James White and the writer sent a volume of the Signs of the Times and some tracts, accompanied by a letter, to Pitcairn Island. These documents were placed on a ship going around Cape Horn to New York. We were assured that the ship would stop at Pitcairn, and there the parcel would be delivered. We knew not a person on the island, and knew nothing of the island itself, save its reputation as having for its inhabitants a devoted, godly people. The papers were sent at a venture. We heard nothing from the people or our literature until Mr. John I. Tay made his visit to the island, in the year 1886, ten years later, when we learned that as the result of reading the volume of the Signs and the tracts, the whole island, at one time, almost decided to change their day of worship from the first day of the week to the seventh day, and keep the Lord’s Sabbath. This they did not do, however, until the time of Mr. Tay’s visit. He had been for a long time deeply impressed to visit the island, but knew nothing of428the people personally, nor of their interest already kindled in the truth. After his return to America, he plead most earnestly for a ship to be constructed with which missionaries could be transported from island to island in the Pacific Ocean. He attended the General Conference held in the year 1889, with this thought uppermost in mind, and there he plead the cause of the Polynesian Islands. The conference, seeing the utility of the undertaking, voted to raise, by donations, the sum of $12,000 with which to build or buy a ship to work among the islands of the Pacific Ocean. In harmony with this action the ship Pitcairn was built, in the summer of 1890, near Benicia, about thirty miles from Oakland, Cal., at a cost of $12,035.22. In three fourths of a year this sum of money was raised, and donated by the Sabbath-schools for this purpose alone, and never was a gift more cheerfully and enthusiastically made. The ship was dedicated at Oakland, Cal., Sept. 25, 1890. About fifteen hundred people assembled on the ship and wharf to witness the ceremony. The “Pitcairn’s” First Cruise
The vessel sailed on its first cruise from San Francisco for its distant field of labor, October 20. On board as missionaries were Elder E. H. Gates and his wife, Elder A. J. Reed and his wife, John I. Tay and his wife, with a missionary crew under Captain Marsh. This vessel went first to Pitcairn Island, four thousand miles south of San Francisco, where it arrived November 25. When the ship left the island, December 17, eighty-two adults had received baptism, and had been organized into a Seventh-day Adventist church. The vessel then made its way to the Society, Hervey, Samoan, Friendly, and Fiji groups, leaving religious books and health and temperance tracts with the English-speaking people. During429eight months, to September, 1891, the missionaries sold books to the amount of $1,900 besides distributing a large amount of reading matter free. The missionaries were stationed as follows: Elder Reed at Tahiti; Elder Gates remained at Pitcairn to finish the work already begun there; while Mr. Tay chose to labor on the island of Fiji. In the Review of April 14, 1904, Elder Fulton says of the work in Fiji: “There are now more than one hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers in this mission field.” From Fiji, the vessel sailed to Auckland, New Zealand, for necessary repairs and needed improvements, and also for a supply of books. After an absence of one year, eleven months, and eighteen days, the Pitcairn returned to San Francisco, where it arrived Oct. 9, 1892. During this time Captain Marsh had passed away, and been buried in the island of New Zealand. Mr. Tay was stricken with pneumonia, from which he never recovered. He, too, passed peacefully away, and was laid to rest in the distant land of Fiji; and thus were two precious lives given so soon to the Polynesian Mission. The missionaries located on the island of Tahiti, at Papaete, were led to rejoice in seeing, almost immediately, fruits of their labor. They were enabled to send to the homeland, at this date, the cheering report of forty persons converted and organized into a Seventh-day Adventist church. The “Pitcairn’s” Second Trip
The vessel set sail from San Francisco on its second voyage, Jan. 17, 1893, with the following missionaries: B. J. Cady and his wife, J. M. Cole and his wife, E. C. Chapman and his wife, and M. G. Kellogg, M. D. Miss Hattie Andre, of Ohio, accompanied them as teacher for Pitcairn Island. In the fall of 1893, Mr. Cady opened a school at Raiatea, of the Society group, with sixty scholars. At the close of the first430term the number had increased to one hundred and five. At the opening of the second term there were one hundred and twenty pupils in attendance. The “Pitcairn’s” Third Trip
The third cruise of the ship was taken in 1893–94. The missionaries for this voyage were G. C. Wellman and his wife and Lillian White, all of Michigan, who were booked for Raiatea, where they were to assist Elder Cady in his work. Mr. Stringer and his wife went as self-supporting missionaries. They stopped at Rurutu. At Raratonga (where the people kept Saturday for Sunday), Dr. Caldwell and his wife were stationed; while Elder Buckner and his wife, of California, were left at Pitcairn. During his sojourn with this people, many new industries were introduced, which have in many ways proved beneficial to the inhabitants. First of all, a windmill for grinding the corn which is now raised on the island was built, and from the same wind-power, light machinery is carried, which has led to other industries heretofore unknown to the islanders. The “Pitcairn’s” Fourth Trip
December 15, 1895, the Foreign Mission Secretary said:— “The Pitcairn is now in port from its fourth cruise. . . . The work has been planted in nine different groups, and the following laborers are employed in the same:— “In Pitcairn Island, teachers, E. S. Butz and wife, and Hattie Andre. Norfolk Island, some self-supporting missionaries are engaged in the work here, who came from Australia. Society Islands, minister, B. J. Cady; medical missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Prickett. Raratonga, medical missionaries, Dr. J. E. Caldwell and wife, Misses Lillian White and Maude Young; teachers, G. O. Wellman and wife, Elder J. D. Rice and wife. Fiji, Elder J. M. Cole and wife. Friendly Islands, Elder E. Hilliard and wife. Rurutu, Mr. and Mrs. Stringer, self-supporting missionaries. Hawaii,431Elder E. H. Gates and wife; teachers, H. H. Brand and wife. Samoa, Dr. F. E. Braucht and wife. Elder D. A. Owen and son and daughter, self-supporting missionaries. “The Pitcairn has sold and given away large quantities of literature during its four voyages. In consequence, Sabbath-keepers have sprung up in many places. Churches have been organized at Pitcairn Island, Norfolk, and Tahiti.” As there are now facilities for reaching the Polynesian field which did not exist when the ship was constructed, the vessel has been sold, and other means employed for carrying on the work. Elder E. H. Gates is now superintendent of the Polynesian field, and reports progress in the various groups. In the winter of 1889, Mr. Wm. Arnold, of America, began colporteur work in the West Indies. While thus engaged he was successful in obtaining the names and addresses of twelve hundred persons, which were sent to the International Tract Society for its use in missionary work. By correspondence and the sending of reading matter to these addresses, an interest was awakened in the truth, and thus was the way opened for the promulgation of the gospel through the preaching of the Word. In response to the call made for ministerial labor, Elder D. A. Ball, in November, 1890, went to the Barbadoes and to other points, to labor. Several persons accepted the truth as the result of his efforts. In 1892, Mr. Patterson, from California, canvassed the islands for “Bible Readings” with good success. In 1893, B. B. Newman went from Florida to Jamaica to take the superintendency of the canvassing work during the absence of Mr. Arnold. Mr. Evans and Mr. Hackett also went to the Indies the same year, to engage in this branch of the work. In the month of May, Elder Haysmer and his432wife entered this field to labor as the way might open. Soon after this Mr. Arnold returned, this time to canvass for books treating upon the subject of health. Up to July, 1895, books of this character had been sold in Jamaica alone to the amount of $8,200, while the sale of religious books amounted to $7,654, or a total of $15,854. The distribution of so large an amount of literature aided much in establishing at Kingston a well-organized church of seventy-five members, and opening avenues for ministerial labor in other parts of the island. The work here was introduced in a manner similar to that of Jamaica. In the year 1889, Mr. F. B. Grant and his wife were invited to visit the island for the purpose of introducing our denominational literature, and by invitation Elder Flowers and his wife soon followed them to labor as the way opened. They met with good success, until Elder Flowers was stricken with fever, which caused his death, June 29, 1894. Elder E. W. Webster was chosen as his successor, and he sailed from New York in August, 1895. In 1896 the laborers in the West Indies were as follows: In Jamaica, Elder A. J. Haysmer and W. W. Eastman, and a number of canvassers were in the Bahama Islands. In the Lesser Antilles, where Elder E. Van Deusen and his wife, with C. F. Parmlee and his wife as Bible workers, Mr. Bean and Mr. Hackett as canvassers. In Trinidad, Elder E. W. Webster and his wife, with Miss Stella Colvin as medical missionary. The results,—one hundred and ten Sabbath-keepers in Jamaica, and fifty Sabbath-keepers in Trinidad, centered around Couva; one church in Barbadoes, and one company in Antigua, Lesser Antilles. Elder F. J. Hutchins and his wife left the United States for the Bay Islands, Nov. 16, 1891. At this time there were,433principally in Ruatan, about twenty persons who were observing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment according to the decalogue, their attention being first called to this truth by reading matter sent them by post. Three years later, in 1894, W. A. Miller and his wife left California for Bonaca, where they connected with the educational work as teachers in a school which was opened July 4, 1894, in a school-building erected by Seventh-day Adventists. The attendance during the first term was an average of thirty-four. In 1895 the school was pronounced self-sustaining, as the number of pupils had increased to forty-five. At the General Conference held in 1895, Elder Hutchins reported one hundred persons on the islands who were obeying the message, and he also stated that there had been two meeting-houses erected and were owned by Seventh-day Adventists. On account of a scarcity of land, and therefore very valuable for cultivation, one of these houses of worship was built over the water. These two buildings and the school-house were deeded to the General Conference Association. The value of the Conference property on the island was estimated to be $1,789.60. The amount of books sold up to 1895 was $2,243. Small Ship for Central America
The attention of the Conference being directed to the convenience and advantages of having a small ship by which missionaries could be conveyed from one island to another, it was voted that such a boat be constructed for the work among the Bay Islands at a cost not to exceed $3,000. In 1896, there were only four laborers in Central America: Elder F. J. Hutchins and his wife, and Elder J. A. Morrow and his wife in Spanish Honduras. At Belize, the capital of British Honduras, was a company of believers who were keeping the seventh day according to the fourth commandment. The greater part of the labor in this field has been performed434in the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Here several thousand dollars’ worth of books had been sold, and sixty persons were rejoicing in the truth of the third angel’s message. About twelve years did Elder F. J. Hutchins labor most faithfully and earnestly in the Central American field. At last his endurance failed, and he succumbed to disease. He now rests in sleep, awaiting the call from the Master—the call that shall awake the faithful. It was through the printed page that the views of Seventh-day Adventists were first introduced into South America. In October, 1891, Messrs. Snyder, Stauffer, and Nowlin began their work as canvassers in Argentine. In 1893, by vote of the General Conference, Elder F. H. Westphal, of Illinois, a German minister, connected with the work in this mission field, and in 1894, Frank Kelley, of California, went to the United States of Colombia as a self-supporting missionary. A few months later, these were followed by other laborers, and thus a beginning was made in this new mission. In 1896 the following report was given concerning the work in this field: Chile has one minister, Elder G. H. Baber, who arrived Oct. 19, 1895; and two canvassers, F. W. Richards and F. H. Davis. Argentine has also two ministers, F. H. Westphal and Jean Vuilleumier; and two canvassers, O. Oppegard and C. A. Nowlin. Besides these there are four Bible workers, Lucy Post, Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, and John McCarthy. Brazil has two ministers, Elder H. W. Thurston and F. H. Graff; and three canvassers, A. B. Stauffer, J. F. and J. A. Berger. British Guiana has two ministers, Elder W. G. Kneeland and Elder P. Giddings; and two medical missionaries, Dr. B. J. Fercoit and his wife. In 1896, there had been one thousand dollars’ worth of books sold in Chile, and thirty Sabbath-keepers had accepted the Sabbath and kindred truths by reading the literature purchased of the canvassers. In Brazil and Argentine books had been sold to the amount of ten thousand dollars; and what was still better, there were one hundred observing the Sabbath. One church and five Sabbath-schools had been organized. In Argentine there were three organized churches, at Buenos Ayres, Crespo, and San Cristobal, respectively. There was also one organized church in British Guiana, and fifty Sabbath-keepers, making a total of one hundred and fifty Seventh-day Adventists in South America. THE SOUTHERN MISSIONARY SOCIETY
Strictly speaking, this society cannot be called foreign, notwithstanding it is doing a work in evangelizing a foreign people (Africans) in our home land. Much credit is due to the persevering efforts of Elder J. E. White, under the blessing of God, for the results already attained. In the winter of 1893, when I was serving as president of the Illinois Conference, Elder White came to me heavily burdened for the colored people in the Southern States. As he was spending a few weeks in Chicago, he requested the privilege of laboring for the colored people living in the city. Most gladly was the request granted, and there really began his work for this unfortunate people. Elder White’s Missionary Steamer
From that time he was praying and planning for the Southern field. As he studied, his plans matured, culminating in the construction of a steamer near Lake Michigan, called the Morning Star. Provided with this floating “Bethel,” he went to Chicago, thence down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, reaching Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 10, 1895. Here, with a few associates he began his labors on virgin soil. Work of the Southern Missionary Society
We quote from a report made by Elder White at the General Conference, April 9, 1903, which gives the results of labor, and shows the condition of the Southern missionary work at that date:— “Our Society has built up and is now operating five schools in Mississippi. . . . These schools are located at Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Columbus, and Jackson. . . . Our laborers have also carried forward efforts in Nashville, Memphis, and Edgefield Junction, in Tennessee, and in Louisville and Bowling Green, in Kentucky. “At the present time there are twenty-seven workers in different departments of the Society. Five ordained ministers have been developed in the work of the Southern Missionary Society. . . . Thirteen school-teachers have in different ways been fitted for their work. . . . One young man is being educated by the Society as a physician, at the Meharry Medical College, of Nashville, and another is being assisted in his course at the same school. . . . Some good Bible workers have been developed. Some of the teachers are also becoming proficient workers in this department. The Steamer “Morning Star”
“The Morning Star is my personal property, built with my own money. Further than this, the running expenses of this boat have all been paid from my own income. I will also say that the living expenses on the boat were always met by myself. Often the company numbered from ten to eighteen hands. . . . Even the salaries of all the workers employed by the Society for years were not taken from donations, but from my own personal income. How Money Came for the Southern Mission
“The question may be raised, ‘Where did you get this money?’ The Lord gave it to us. Some little books were brought out. First the ‘Gospel Primer,’ the original design of which was for use in teaching the colored people. The sale of a few thousand copies was expected, but to our astonishment it has reached nearly a million copies.” “Mother [Mrs. E. G. White] helped us with the book ‘Christ our Saviour,’ which had a sale of three or four hundred thousand. Two or three hundred thousand copies of ‘Best Stories’ have been sold. It is estimated that a sufficient number of ‘Coming King’ have been circulated to make a column four miles high. With the royalties from these books, besides carrying many other enterprises and lines of work, we built the Morning Star.” Our work in this country began in the year 1894, in the establishment of a medical mission at Guadalajara. In 1896 the force of laborers was reported as follows: Elder D. T. Jones and his wife, who had charge of the mission. The teachers were Ora A. Osborne, Mrs. A. Cooper, Kate Ross, and a native helper. The medical missionaries were Dr. J. A. Neal, A. Cooper, Mrs. A. J. Rice, Mrs. Bartlett, and Mrs. Rachel Flowers. Forty patients per day were patronizing the mission, and forty students attended the mission school. A new sanitarium was being constructed at this date, at a cost of $12,000. In 1893 the cause of the third angel’s message had so advanced that the General Conference Committee felt justified in recommending that a mission be established in Central Africa. It was therefore voted, “That as soon as practicable a mission be opened in Matabeleland.” In harmony with438this action a party of Seventh-day Adventists, in 1894, entered that country and selected a farm of 12,000 acres. At the conference in 1895, Elder C. B. Tripp and his wife, W. H. Anderson and his wife, and Dr. A. S. Carmichael were chosen as the missionaries for this distant field. They at once began preparations for the long journey, and after a prosperous voyage reached their destination July 26, 1895. For a number of years the Macedonian cry for help had come to Seventh-day Adventists from the West Coast of Africa. An interest had been awakened in the truth by reading Adventist publications, but not until the year 1894 or thereabout was help sent. Then Elder Sanford and Mr. Rudolph were invited by the General Conference Committee to take up the work that had been so long waiting. They entered the field with zeal and courage. Not long afterward, however, Elder Sanford was smitten with the fever, so prevalent there that the country is called “the white man’s grave.” He had three attacks, and then, in order to live, he was compelled to return to America. Others were sent to the West Coast, among whom were Elder D. U. Hale, Geo. F. Kerr and his wife, and G. P. Riggs. The latter, however, was so weakened by disease that his life was despaired of, and he fled to England in the hope of being benefited by a change of climate; in this he and his friends were disappointed, for he gradually failed, and finally died, and there he was buried. He, too, awaits the coming of the Lifegiver.