p. 18 | Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 48. (11/30/1905)

New Recruits for China

By JOHN J. WESTRUP

JOHN J. WESTRUP

THANKS be to God for a safe arrival in China. We have had a very pleasant voyage, and a good time. We bought our tickets for the steamship “Dakota,” which sailed the twenty-fourth of July. After a day’s voyage some of her machinery broke down, and returning to Seattle, she went into dry dock. Her cargo and passengers were transferred to the “Minnesota,” which sailed August 10. I have crossed the Atlantic five times, but have been on no other boat so steady and agreeable as the “Minnesota.” She has very good ventilation, and everything is kept scrupulously clean. I have often thought that it must be providential that these giant steamships of the Great Northern Steamship Company have been built just now, when the closing message must be given to the millions in the East, and our missionaries can cross the great Pacific and the China Sea without much fear of seasickness.

After a day’s voyage from Seattle, we put on our heavy underwear (one of the essential things to avoid seasickness is to keep warm). We walked back and forth on the large deck, covering eight or ten miles a day, in the cold wind, singing to our hearts’ content. There were about twelve other missionaries on the steamer, and nearly all assembled twice a day for Bible study, song, and prayer. Eight of these did not belong to any denomination, but they had been baptized, gave tithe, and had some light on health reform. Their leader—an elder—was very prejudiced in regard to the Sabbath, hence I had no opportunity to speak about it directly, except once. How true the words of Jesus (see Matt. 23: 13) are even to-day. But I had special readings with a young educated Chinese Christian brother. I also handed him the “Bible Readings,” and he read everything in it relating to the Sabbath. He acknowledged the truth, and I believe that some day he will see his way clear, by the grace of God, to live up to it.

And when my wife once had an opportunity to speak to a Norwegian sister about the necessity and blessing of keeping God’s Sabbath, she answered: “I fear no man. When I see it clearly, I will keep the seventh day; for I have done many things that in the eyes of the world seem as strange and foolish as to keep the Lord’s Sabbath.” We believe that she will accept the truth. We have her address, and she said she would come to see us. She and two other young ladies located in China, north of us. What a blessing it is to be a colaborer with God!

On the morning of the twenty-fourth, many were up early—from two to four o’clock—to behold the rocks in the distance, which were so interesting to us, as we had not seen any land for thirteen days. The same day, at eleven o’clock, we cast anchor in the harbor of Yokohama. After dinner we went ashore. We felt like pilgrims and strangers when our feet touched the streets of Japan. As we stopped a minute to inquire for the foreign post-office, we were surrounded by a dozen jinrikisha men, who jabbered away, wanting us to get into their carriages, that they might earn a few cents. The price is ten cents for an hour’s ride. As they followed us perseveringly, we finally took two jinrikishas, and rode around in the city for an hour. It is strange how these men, living mostly on rice and some vegetables, can run on a hot day for miles and miles, like a strong horse.

As we came back to the dock, we met Elders Anderson and Field and their company, who had arrived in the afternoon, on the “Tartar.” The next day Brother Burden came from Tokyo, and invited us to his comfortable home, and did all he could to make our stay both pleasant and profitable. We stayed there four days. On the Sabbath a goodly number came together in Brother Burden’s home. We enjoyed the Sabbath-school and service very much, although we did not understand the Japanese language. I was invited to preach, Elder Okahira interpreting. It was a joy to meet these foreign brethren, new in the faith.

On Sunday afternoon we all went to Elder Field’s home. On the same day and on Monday we visited many interesting places in the large city. Our visit with these brethren, and the good, home-made food acted as a tonic on our systems, and enabled us to endure our boat life again with greater ease.

On Tuesday we went back to the “Minnesota,” as we did not know definitely how long she might remain. She did not leave Yokohama, however, until Friday, at 4 P. M. We had a pleasant voyage to Kobe, where we arrived at half-past seven the next evening. On Sunday morning Dr. Lockwood came to our cabin, and invited us to the sanitarium. How surprised we were to find in Kobe such a large, commodious, and beautiful sanitarium, with nice, cool, spacious rooms, and all the appliances needed to relieve suffering humanity, with a green lawn, beautiful flowers, and shade-trees in the front, making it all very attractive and home-like. Again, it was a pleasant change to be treated to the tasty, wholesome vegetarian diet, instead of the hotel food on the boat.

Our Japanese brethren wished to see and get acquainted with the missionaries who were passing through to China, hence Dr. Lockwood arranged to have a meeting Sunday evening, when I spoke through an interpreter. They have a neat church, which was well filled. There were no Seventh-day Adventists

in Kobe three years ago, and now they have fifty members, and, best of all, they seem happy in the Lord.

After enjoying a good night’s rest, my wife received, next morning, a very beneficial treatment, and Joseph and I were invited to help ourselves to anything we liked in the bath-room, and we took a needle spray. In the afternoon we visited the Japanese sanitarium. It is also nicely located, having several buildings, neatly furnished. This was the busy season for them. There were thirteen patients in the sanitarium, besides those coming daily for treatments. The doctors took us also to several interesting places in the city, as the falls, Mt. Benus, and the Shinti Temple, where several worshipers were offering rice to their idols. May God’s blessing continue to rest upon the work in Japan. May his servants, day by day, be filled with his Holy Spirit, so that he may continue to use them powerfully for the furtherance of his kingdom to the salvation of souls.

On Friday evening at ten o’clock our ship left Kobe. We sailed through the Inland Sea all day; on Sabbath evening arriving at Nagasaki. This was the most delightful part of our voyage. The weather was ideal, and the scenery was grand.

After one day of coaling, we crossed the China Sea, which was also calm, and arrived in Shanghai September 12, at 3 P. M. Here Elder Pilquist had been waiting for us a good while, as we came three weeks late on account of the breakdown of the “Dakota.”

Shanghai is one of the beautiful cities of the empire. We stayed there one day. It was a Chinese festival (Thanksgiving day), hence our German boat could not leave until twelve o’clock the night of the thirteenth, otherwise we should have left for Hankow the same evening.

Steaming up the Yangste River, we saw the country flooded, in some places, for miles inland, all the way. On this pleasant trip we had an opportunity to see the green landscape for four days. We arrived in Hankow September 17, at 6 P. M. Here we had to wait three nights and two days, owing to the inefficiency of the freight service on the railroad. We had to watch our goods day and night, as the railroad company is not responsible for anything they carry. Any one who has any freight must be in the car with it, in order to keep it from being stolen. As we could not make ourselves understood, Elder Pilquist did the watching, and one night, while sleeping in the open car on top of our goods, drove away several thieves. He studied the Bible with the Chinese around him at the same time he watched the goods.

The last part of our journey was the most tiresome, especially that of being carried inland from the railroad. I will not attempt to describe this. One must see Inland China, in order to understand. We arrived in Lo Shan September 22, at 6:30 A. M. The native Christians came to the entrance through the city wall, to meet us. In the yard we met Sister Pilquist and the children, whom we embraced, weeping for joy that we had finally reached the home of these true, noble-hearted, self-sacrificing missionaries, whose stirring appeals had set our hearts aglow for China. We are so thankful that we are not disappointed in these pioneer Seventh-day Adventists of Inland China, but that they really are such loyal, earnest Christians as we expected them to be. Although the outward circumstances are forbidding, yet we are indeed happy and thankful that we are here. The love of God in our hearts, and a real hunger for the salvation of these poor souls, can keep in us a cheerful, buoyant spirit, even in the midst of this gross darkness, gloom, and misery. Brethren at home, let heartfelt prayers ascend to the throne of grace for your missionaries abroad; they need your prayers.

We are now where our dear Heavenly Father wants us to be, and that means also that we are on the way to the heavenly Jerusalem. Thank God, we are here, and we must get to heaven at any cost. Our assurance is this: ‘As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever.’

Willing to Be a Foundation Stone

A YOUNG man who had gone through the great school of Oxford, and done well in his studies, made up his mind to go to Africa as a missionary. One of his teachers, who loved him, said, “You will die in a year or two in that hot country. It is madness.” But the brave young servant of Jesus answered: “I think it is with African missions as with the building of a great bridge; you know how many stones have to be buried in the earth, all unseen, to be a foundation. If Christ wants me to be one of the unseen stones lying in an African grave, I am content, certain as I am that some day Africa will belong to Jesus.” The young man did die in a year.—Selected.

Mission Notes

AT the opening of the new Free Methodist college at Wenchow, China, about thirty government officials were present in state, and one hundred students from a Chinese school came twenty miles to see the opening ceremony.

IN five months the baptisms in the American Baptist mission at Kentung, north Burma, have amounted to 1,396. During 1904 in the China Inland Mission, 2,387 people confessed Christ in baptism. The number baptized in 1903 was 1,729.

WHEN you will be homeward bound and crossing the vast Atlantic Ocean, the sons and daughters of Africa will be raising their hands to you, shouting together with one voice: “Help! help to drive out this great darkness.”—Letter from a native pastor to a returning missionary.

THE Church of England Zenana Missionary Society has Bible women in many South India villages. One is in a village many miles from the nearest Christian church, so that she can not go to church at all. Another is of low caste, and therefore must live outside of the village where she works. By walking six miles, she can attend church, however, every Sunday.

“WITH the coming of the Lord and eternity so nigh at hand, we are altogether too cold on the missionary question. We have not as yet done our best; we have been slow to give the Holy Ghost an opportunity to accomplish his office work. Shall we not, one and all, be honest, confess our coldness, and permit the God of missions to swing us into line and carry forward his glorious enterprise in us and through us?”

PUT the people in China in rank, joining hands, and they will girdle the globe ten times. Make them an army, and let them move at the rate of one thousand a day, week after week, and month after month, and they will not pass you in one thousand years. Constitute them pilgrims, and let two thousand go past every day and every night, under the sunlight and the solemn stars, and you must hear the ceaseless tramp, tramp of the weary, pressing, throbbing throng for five hundred long years.

“AS a redeemed soul, are you in a position to take your place and do your part, and so add fuel to the missionary fires now burning? Some of God’s dear servants are being mightily stirred with regard to missions, consequently more time is being given to prayer, and more money is being placed upon God’s altar. How about the stand you take and the interest you manifest, beloved? Are you in the year of our Lord 1905 pressing on, denying self, sacrificing, or are you cooling off, and being left behind?”

White to the Harvest

SOME one has said that he who is not a missionary Christian will be a missing Christian when the great day comes for bestowing the rewards of service; therefore, we should search ourselves carefully to find how we are fulfilling the trust committed to us, and we should acquaint ourselves with the important parts of the Lord’s great vineyard. Much has been done in the past, as the records of missionary work prove, but the field is yet white, and the Macedonian cry still comes for aid and help.

Missions, the Greatest Work

“ARE we agreed as to missions being the great work of the church? Then let us go a step further, and recognize missions as the greatest work ever committed to the individual member of the church.”

Texas

By E. L. Neff

SAN ANTONIO.—After our camp-meeting we spent about ten days at Lytle, visiting among the interested ones there. Four had taken their stand for the truth during our tent effort in that place; these we found faithful, and still rejoicing in the truth.

On the fifth of September we made arrangements to begin meetings ten miles east of San Antonio, in what is known as the “China Grove” neighborhood. From the first, the attendance was good. The people were kind, and there was but very little prejudice. We continued the meetings five weeks, and several were not absent from a single service.

We closed our meetings on Sunday night, October 15. When we told our congregation that we had tried faithfully to preach the truth, and now they must answer to God for what they heard, tears came to the eyes of some, and others wept as we told them good-by.

It was our privilege that Sunday afternoon to baptize seven dear souls as a result of these meetings. We hope to see others take their stand with us, as many said, “You have preached the truth.”

We praise God for this precious truth; and we are glad to have a part in its closing work, and we hope soon to triumph with the message.

E. L. NEFF.

Fiji

By C. H. Parker

MUALEVU, LOMALOMA.—Last April I finished our central church for the Lau district. It was a cause of rejoicing. We held quarterly meeting in it in connection with the dedicatory services. We had a good time, as all our people of this district assembled in a general meeting. Two took their stand with us, and our first Sabbath-keeper in Fiji—Aminio—requested baptism, which I administered at the close of the service.

Our second church for this district, which is to be built at Cikobia, has all the timbers ready for erection, and we expect to have it finished by the time of our next quarterly meeting, which will be held next month.

A few have lately taken their stand for the truth at Lakeba, the native ruler’s island. Our native minister, Pauliasi Bunoa, is soon to go there and settle.

The work at Viro, where our central school for Fiji and neighboring islands is located, is going forward nicely, and a number of good students are being gathered in. The Wesleyan white ministers are doing all in their power to keep students from entering. But we have no fears of such work, for nothing can be done against the truth, only for it. Praise God for such a truth.

Through the printed page, letters, and associations, we are leavening this group; and many of the people, though not taking a decided stand for the truth, are very outspoken for it. I think I can truthfully say that wherever the truth has been preached, good impressions have been left, and doors opened for future work. We are all of good courage, though the work has been taxing. We all intend to work harder than ever before.

The work done at the General Conference has been a source of great blessing and encouragement to us. Truly, the cloud has settled down upon Washington for the head of our work. Thank God for the spirit of prophecy that is among us. O that we all may be more diligent in harkening to it!

C. H. PARKER.

Kansas

By A. R. Ogden

LOGAN.—The accompanying illustration is a picture of the Seventh-day Adventist church building at Logan, Kan. This structure was built in 1901 by Henry Ferritt, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. Not only has Brother Ferritt erected this neat house of worship, but he keeps up all the running expenses. The house stands as a monument to the true Sabbath, “the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” The building was erected by Brother Ferritt when believers in Logan were few, but his faith in Adventism led him to believe that the time would come when the Seventh-day Adventists of that place would increase in numbers.

The work has continued to grow, and Oct. 22, 1905, there was organized a church of fifteen members. The Sabbath-school is more than twice that number. The members of the church are all taking an active part in the work of God by paying a faithful tithe, and giving liberal offerings to the many calls for means to hasten this message to the world. A. R. OGDEN.

Kentucky

By JOHN RILEY; MARY RILEY

CAMPBELLSVILLE.—About one year ago we left Kansas and came to Campbellsville, Ky. Being strangers in a Southern city, we spent about six weeks in getting acquainted with the people and gaining their confidence. Then we began meetings in the court-house, and also did house-to-house work. After a few weeks we moved our place of meeting to a schoolhouse near by. Now we have a company of eight earnest souls, and a Sabbath-school of twenty-three members. During the last few months these believers have paid about one hundred and twenty dollars tithe, and are planning to build a church in the spring.

We have done some work in Adair County during the last month. Four have acknowledged the truth, and have promised to obey. And now an interest is springing up about three miles from this place. To the Lord be all the praise. JOHN RILEY, MARY RILEY.

Southern Illinois

By M. G. HUFFMAN

AFTER my return from the General Conference I joined Elder P. G. Stanley in a series of tent-meetings in Urbana. We began our meetings in a central part of the city about the nineteenth of June, and continued them until August 18, continuing them until October 12. The Lord greatly blessed our efforts, and as the result a goodly number took their stand for the truth, and we have now a company in the twin cities of between twenty-five and thirty, and a Sabbath-school numbering forty. There were a few Sabbath-keepers in the two cities when we went there.

The friends have rented a hall in a central location for one year, with the privilege of the same for three years. The hall has been nicely fitted up, at a cost of one hundred and ninety-five dollars; but we received in cash donations $212.95, leaving a remainder of over seventeen dollars in the treasury. The evening of October 22 we dedicated the hall with appropriate services. During our tent effort we received over one hundred and six dollars, and the company has already paid $383.95 tithe since we began meetings there.

We sold a goodly number of our bound books, and put into the hands of the people thousands of pages of tracts, and have obtained a large number of subscriptions for our different publications.

I left Urbana November 3, and went to Sadorus, where we have one family of Sabbath-keepers. I preached three evenings there in a hall, and the Lord blessed. Monday, November 6, I left Sadorus for Tallula, where I began a series of meetings in three large rooms in a hotel last evening, November 8.

Elder Stanley remained in Urbana to follow up the interest in the twin cities, while, in harmony with the desire of the conference committee, I will spend

some months visiting among the churches. I am of good courage, and praise the Lord that he still grants me the privilege of having some part in his work.

M. G. HUFFMAN.

Ceylon

By HARRY ARMSTRONG

COLOMBO.—It is now nearly three months since we received a valuable contribution of a tent, which was kindly donated to this work by the students of 'Healdsburg College. The tent arrived safely, and in good condition. We have since that time prepared the furniture and fittings, including chairs, center pole, wall poles, and stakes. We soon found that our tent fund was not sufficient to purchase even the two hundred chairs at store prices, so we arranged to buy the wood from the timber yard, and make them ourselves. Elder Owen designed a folding chair suitable for our needs, and then we began a work of industry, planing and sawing, screwing and nailing, until the two hundred chairs were completed. By making them ourselves we have saved a sum equal to five hundred rupees, and have gained an experience that will serve us in any emergency.

All the furniture and fittings are now complete, and just as soon as we receive definite word about the land on which we hope to pitch, we shall go forward in our first public effort among this people. This month we have had presented to us a good organ, which is just what we need for our tent services. We believe that as we open our services to the public, the people will open their hearts to the truth, and that they will also sustain the work.

We are having parlor meetings, and a good interest is maintained in them. There are some here who love the truth, and we hope to see them continue in their interest. We have a class of Tamil Sabbath-keepers who meet with us every Sabbath. They have been keeping the Sabbath since 1844. God's Holy Spirit caused a great awakening among some who were specially seeking him at that time, and they saw the Sabbath truth, and kept it. They were driven out of the churches, and were persecuted, but they have been firm and faithful even until now. They were much pleased to meet with us, and have been gathering into our bungalow every Sabbath to learn more of the truth. We speak to them through an interpreter, and they drink in the good things the Lord has given us.

We believe that the opening of the tent services will prove a great blessing to many, and to this end we ask you to remember this work before the throne of grace. God has a people here, and he will gather them out by the power of the voice of the third angel's message, and so work in them that it can be said of them, 'Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'

Brethren and sisters, let us be faithful and true, let us be strong and courageous, and 'let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'

HARRY ARMSTRONG.

Porto Rico

By LILLIAN S. CONNERLY.

ARECIBO.—For some time we had been planning to visit Arecibo, and baptize some of the company there who have been waiting since our last visit the first of the year. Traveling is so expensive here, and our means are so limited, that we have been obliged to put off this visit from time to time. But on the eleventh of October we decided that we could wait no longer, so took the train to Aguadilla, where we stayed all night, and found a good interest in El Centinela de la Verdad, and a number of diligent inquirers concerning the message for this time.

Early the next morning, together with our native worker,—Victoriano Fernandez, who was working his own way with a little pamphlet he has written,—we took a coach, and had a delightful drive through the country, working as we went, where we found opportunity, for the paper. Taking train again at Camuy, we arrived in Arecibo late in the afternoon, finding Brother and Sister Moulton and the new little missionary baby of good courage in the work, and very glad to see us. We found a small company, very earnest in their service, keeping the Sabbath, paying tithe, and in all points of present truth well instructed. Deciding to wait until the next Sabbath for the baptism, Mr. Connerly and Brother Moulton went to Barceloneta, where two young men are preparing for baptism, who we greatly hope will develop into canvassers.

Brother Moulton remained in Barceloneta while Mr. Connerly visited some who are interested in the truth in Bayamon, Catano, and San Juan, returning to Arecibo in time to prepare for the baptismal service.

Although a seaport town, with three rivers emptying into the bay, we could find no suitable place for baptism on the rocky coast. We procured three large boats, and with the interested ones went about two miles up one of the rivers, and there, under the refreshing shade of some bamboo trees, we read to them of the baptism of Jesus, of what it means to us, and while we sang the songs of Zion, eight were buried in baptism in the quiet river, according to the Lord’s direction, on profession of their faith. We ourselves were the only ones of the company gathered who had ever witnessed this rite. Many were moved as they beheld it, and even one of the rude men who pushed the boat up the river was deeply impressed, and said he wished to be baptized, too.

How our hearts yearned over this little company, as we took our departure, leaving them to the care of Brother Moulton, who wept as he considered the responsibility. May God bless him and his wife as they work to uphold the standard in this trying field. We feel that their home is truly as a light in the midst of darkness, and that a good influence has gone out from it.

From Arecibo we took our journey by coach to Ponce, the second largest town in Porto Rico, where no work has as yet been done, aside from the distribution of our paper, but where our eyes have turned with longing to see a worker located.

We passed through the most beautiful scenery on this trip it was ever my lot to see, following a winding river the greater part of the way, through a beautiful valley, with mountains rising on either side in majestic grandeur against a tropical sky, and proclaiming in language too eloquent for words, “The hand that made us is divine.”

Our paper is doing a good work, going out before us and preparing the way, and our prayer is that through it, in whatever way the Lord opens before us, we may faithfully and acceptably to God give the message of truth to this island. We have had dark times, when it seemed our work was almost a failure, but our courage is good in the Lord.

LILLIAN S. CONNERLY.

A Visit to North Dakota

By H. SHULTZ

OCTOBER 12 I left College View, Neb., and arrived at New Home, N. D., the next day. I held meetings with the church over Sabbath and Sunday, and the word spoken was well received. The brethren and sisters were much encouraged, and determined to live closer to God, and press forward till the Master comes. After this I visited the churches near Bowdon, Fessenden, Harvey, Sheyenne, and Lincoln. I found the brethren and sisters of good courage in the Lord; they also gave of their means to help send some one to China to preach the last message of mercy to the people sitting in darkness. Altogether, these churches donated in cash $332.88 to help in this good work.

From North Dakota I came to Bowdle, in the northern part of South Dakota, where I was met by Brother Dollinger, who took me to his home; there I met Brethren Underwood and Burman, also the State Sabbath-school secretary. The

word spoken here was well received; and when the needs of the foreign mission work were presented, the brethren responded with a cash donation of $84.62.

I now go South. The Lord willing, I expect to meet once more with the brethren near Milltown, S. D., then pass on to Nebraska and Kansas, where I expect to help Brother Riffel in a series of meetings before going West. May God help his people to hasten the message to the ends of the earth.

H. SHULTZ.

Cuba

By E. W. SNYDER

MARIANAO.—After a pleasant voyage of three and one-half days, we reached Havana. We were met by Brother Moore, whose home has been our headquarters since our arrival. We found him of good courage, and glad that something is to be done for this field. Both he and Brother Dart have the book work in mind, but have not thought it advisable to undertake it until the Spanish books are available.

Everything is expensive here. Rents are so high that I do not know that we shall be able to afford anything but a shack. In Havana nothing is to be had four or five miles out. Not being able to build here, we may be obliged to go to some part of the interior.

Brethren Moore and Dart have done as much as possible with what has come into their hands. Their presence here near Havana will be appreciated by all who enter this field. Personally, we have no reason to be anything but of good courage.

Several experienced workers in Florida are expecting to come to this field as soon as we can depend on Spanish books. The brethren have corresponded with Brother Moore concerning the establishment of an industrial school on the island. Doubtless this will be done in time.

This evening I expect to leave for the east, where there are some to be baptized. We have become pretty well acquainted with Havana and its vicinity, and have also made a visit to Bahia, Honduras. E. W. SNYDER.

England

By Alexander Ritchie

In May, 1904, we were called upon to leave Scotland, and labor in the South England Conference. I was taken sick, and had to go to the sanitarium, where I was treated most kindly by the doctor and all his helpers. On account of this illness it was rather late when we got into the field with our tent. Brother Alfred Bacon acted as tent master, and also helped in the speaking. We advertised the meetings with hand-bills, but failed to draw the people satisfactorily. We then utilized the leading papers of the district, which was Southeast London, and soon had a growing interest. We met some opposition in the meetings, but our attendance grew steadily. The newspapers printed half- and full-column reports of our discourses on the most striking themes, and probably about two hundred and fifty thousand of these papers containing our discourses on present truth were scattered over a wide territory. By the time we took down our tent, October 17, over twenty had taken their stand to keep all the commandments of God.

We continued the work in a high-class hall, which was the only one we could get, on Sabbaths and Sundays. We could not have the use of this hall on week nights, and would have been unable to pay the price if we could have had it. Our Sabbath and Sunday meetings were well attended, and the interest was excellent. Instead of evening meetings during the week, we got the whole company to work with tracts in packages, and by their faithful efforts over five thousand tracts on all points of present truth were distributed in the neighborhood. Mrs. Ritchie found many opportunities for giving Bible readings and making family visits, and I believe her work was appreciated.

A branch of the Good Health League was formed, and inaugurated by a public health dinner, and a lecture on the principles of vegetarianism by the writer. This was all well reported by the local press.

One of the best features of this company is the number of earnest young people who are more or less actively engaged in the work of the church. Six of them are in the canvassing work,—three give part of their time, and the other three all of their time, to the work,—and are making a success of it.

After all had been thoroughly instructed on all points of present truth, we called for Elder O. A. Olsen, our conference president, who baptized fifteen persons before leaving for Australia. At a later date the writer baptized six. September 30 Elder Andross, president of the British Union Conference, assisted by Prof. H. R. Salisbury, president of the South England Conference, and the writer, organized our little company into a church of twenty-eight members. Evening after the Sabbath, we celebrated the ordinances of the Lord’s house together, and enjoyed the service greatly. There was love and union in all hearts. The Sunday evening following we preached our last sermon there. The attendance and interest were both excellent, and the Lord blessed the word.

We left the Catford church with many regrets. We dearly love the brethren and sisters there, and pray that they may all prove faithful. Their Sabbath-school attendance is about fifty, and the church-membership twenty-eight. Twenty-five of these are paying tithe; last quarter they paid over one hundred and fifty dollars. There is still a good interest at this place.

We are now located at Plymouth, the famous old seaport from which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed for America. Recently it was my privilege to stand on the very spot from which they embarked for the New World. It is marked by a large flat stone bearing the inscription:— > “Mayflower > 1620.”

Now, their descendants, the spiritual “pilgrims and strangers on the earth,” are carrying the last message of mercy to every land.

We have met with the church here a few times, and have given them instruction on several subjects, but have not begun a public effort. This we hope to do soon in a small town a few miles from Plymouth, on the outskirts of which we have located our home. We ask an interest in your prayers, dear brethren and sisters in America.

The church we raised up in Scotland remains faithful and earnest, which is a cause for much thankfulness.

ALEXANDER RITCHIE.

A Letter

By L. J. Burgess; G. A. Burgess

ON BOARD THE “OCEANIC,”

Nov. 3, 1905.

Dear Brethren and Sisters in America,—

Having started on our return to India, we wish to send back a few words of farewell, and to express our gratitude to the Lord for his blessing that has attended our preparation for again taking up our work among the Hindustani people.

We feel very grateful for the encouragement we have received, and for the ready assistance that has been given by our people in the disposal of the special number of The Bible Training School, about twenty-four thousand of which have been sent out. The receipts from these papers have not all come in as yet, but enough has been received to cover the cost of those sent out, to pay our expenses in returning to the field, and to make a beginning in the work there.

We wish also to thank all who have sent in donations to this work. I think we have acknowledged all these by personal letters, but would take this opportunity to do so again, and to ask all who have taken part in this effort, to continue to help by their prayers, that the Lord may open the way and give his servants wisdom to carry on the work that has been begun, that they may share with us in the joy of seeing many souls from far-away India saved in the little kingdom of God as a result of this effort.

Future remittances on account of papers sold or pledges made, may be sent to Elder S. N. Haskell or to The Bible Training School, South Lancaster, Mass., to be applied on the Hindustani Mission Fund.

L. J. BURGESS. G. A. BURGESS.

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