CENTURIES ago a voyage to the Holy Land was not only a matter of months, connected with all kinds of dangers and privations, but of great expense. To-day six days suffice from London or Hamburg to Palestine. Every comfort can be had for money, and one hundred thirty-five dollars will cover the price of a second-class return ticket. Any one desiring to see much in a short time and at little expense can view the continent of Europe, visit all the chief places noted in the history of the Reformation, like Wittenberg, Wartburg, Worms, Zurich, Geneva; pass through the majestic Alps; take in the sights of ancient and modern Rome, and embark at Naples, stopping in Egypt on the way. Thus he can see the chief historical places of Protestantism, the papacy, Islam, and ancient Israel, as well as Rome and Egypt.
My time being limited, I left Hamburg, September 16, and with few changes made the run of twelve hundred sixty miles from there to Brindisi, Italy, in forty-seven hours. In the north the trees had already lost their leaves, and it was cold enough for an overcoat; in the south one had to put on light clothing, and for a small amount delicious fruits of various kinds could be secured in abundance. The Lloyd steamer “Bohemia” was in port from Triest, Austria, and within two hours pulled out into the blue Adriatic, which was quite rough as long as we faced the wind. But as we turned southeast, a quieter sea set in, and the glories of a southern sunset at sea were unfolded before us, announcing the sweet Sabbath rest. On Sabbath our boat passed along the rocky, barren shores of classic Greece, once the ruler of the world, its philosophers still the study of modern savants. Not a town was in sight. Scarcely any sign of life could be observed—the past glories all faded, soon to be forever outshone by the eternal luster of the kingdom of God. During the night our boat glided past the island of Crete, the last European soil; and Sunday our eyes beheld only blue skies and the vast Mediterranean. Before daylight Monday the clanking of our anchor chains assured us that we were safely anchored on African soil. Its chief seaport, Alexandria, had been reached. Nearly a thousand miles by sea had been covered in sixty-two hours.
The darker faces on shore, and the harsh, guttural sounds of the Arabic, bespoke another continent; while the order maintained by well-dressed police testified of the wholesome influence of British rule. While preparing to take the fast train for Port Said, two familiar faces appeared in the crowd of passengers : Brethren Awada and Keough, our Egyptian workers, had unexpectedly come to take the same train. As the cars flew up the Nile delta, branching off at Benha, and passed through the land of Goshen, they told us what God was doing in the land of Ham. At Benha, where we changed trains, two young men who had become convinced of the truth, and who were at the time teaching in a school, assisted us. A six-hours’ run brought us to Port Said, a distance of one hundred sixty-two miles, the oppressive heat and the clouds of fine dust testifying to the nearness of the vast desert.
Not having secured a visa for Turkey, I called on the United States consul, who could give me no sure information; but by his advice and certificate, I secured an Egyptian passport. We then boarded another Austrian Lloyd steamer, to continue our passage to Syria the same evening. Brother Scholz and Sister Brefin had come on this boat from Triest, spending ten days en route, and they rejoiced when we joined them. Early the next day we could plainly see the mountains of Judea. Thus less than six days were sufficient to bring us from Hamburg to ancient Joppa. A number of Israelites filled the deck, but quite a task awaited them before they would be permitted to land. The Turkish government has made at least one improvement at Joppa—it has erected a quarantine station outside of the town. All the third-class passengers, whether willingly or by force, had to embark in row-boats to the shore, to take a bath, and then return in the same perilous way over the high waves, while all the other passengers simply paid a franc after being inspected by the doctor.
Finally by noon the yellow flag was hauled down, the steamer anchored nearer to town, and the passengers were allowed to embark for the shore. As we pulled up to the Turkish custom-house, no passport was demanded, no bakshish called for: a new era had dawned in Turkey. We all walked out to the German colony, close to Joppa, and, wholly unexpectedly to the German believers living there, we called on them. This company seldom see a minister. Some time ago they lost their faithful elder; and their joy was great when so many of us paid them a visit. Messengers were quickly sent out, to invite their friends, and soon we had a meeting at the place where Peter of old had his vision about Cornelius. Brother Ludwig Krug, who looks after our health institute at Jerusalem, joined us there. As we returned toward evening, the waves had become so high that our boat at times seemed to be swallowed by them. But the Lord protected us, and we felt like praising him when we safely boarded our steamer again.
While the steamer passed the plain of Sharon, I had interesting visits with some old acquaintances, among others the Lutheran pastor of Jerusalem, who often visits our health institute. He talked with me till after midnight, when we rounded Mount Carmel, and anchored in the Bay of Caifa. After visiting Sister Muller, who is nursing in the German colony, our company ascended Mount Carmel. Since my last visit there five years ago, another pensionate has been erected on Carmel’s heights, both being crowded with guests this summer. The Jews have recently bought considerable property there, and intend also to erect some buildings. We called on a number of interested families. Some are in the valley of decision, and we hope erelong to have a company to testify for the truth on Carmel’s heights, as in the time of Elijah.
Our most interesting experience, however, was with three American women, who came with us on the same boat, bound for Sarepta, and coming from China. They told us of the wonderful gift of tongues, and tried to persuade every one with whom they came in contact. A certain man had preceded them. After failing in China, he had gone to Palestine, where at first quite a crowd gathered to hear him. Brother Krug attended his meetings. But the man’s efforts proved a total failure, and he left for the States. Two of the women had left the United States five months ago, and tried to preach in Canton, but their only convert was a bright little woman, who had labored for years in China, and had learned the language. The older woman would now and then pour forth a number of words, unintelligible to any one, claiming to have the gift of tongues. They had come all the way from China to visit Sarepta by special command of God, to view the Holy Land, and then return to the States. As I opened up the special message to this missionary, she became confounded, and admitted that she had never heard of it, and desired to investigate further. Paul’s admonitions to the Corinthians about the gifts are to be carefully studied. The same abuse of the gifts made then we find now.
Next morning early our steamer anchored in the harbor of Beirut, over-towered by the majestic Lebanon. Elder W. Ising came on board, and as we neared the shore, the well-known faces of Elder Z. G. Baharian and several other Armenian workers testified to the sudden change in Turkey. When we first planned a general meeting for the Levant field, we had no idea that our Armenian workers would be permitted to attend. But the Lord, who knows the end from the beginning, so directed matters that unexpectedly, like a flash of lightning from a clear sky, conditions so changed in Turkey that when the time for the meeting arrived, all could be present.
Hamburg.
The Annual Meetings in Russia
By J. T. BOETTCHER
J. T. BOETTCHER
The first three quarters of 1908 have brought many blessings to our union conference. We could plainly see the hand of God in the message during our visit to the four annual meetings held this fall,—in the Caucasian and South Russian conferences and in the East and West Russian missions.
As we presented before our brethren the greatness of the work entrusted to them, they all felt the responsibility resting upon them to carry the truth to the one hundred fifty million inhabitants of the Russian empire. When they looked at the tremendous task before them, it seemed to them that they had hardly made a beginning. This was vividly expressed when whole congregations, with broken-hearted contrition, rededicated themselves to the cause of God. The spirit of labor came upon many souls, and men and women offered to dedicate themselves to the circulation14of our literature, in spite of the many obstacles they must meet, and the unpleasant circumstances they must overcome. The accompanying illustration shows two of our colporteurs as they appear when going forth from hamlet to hamlet. Their accommodations are frequently meager. They carry their house, their bed, their kitchen, and their books with them, and they must often lie down to rest where night overtakes them. The angels of heaven are going before us, and preparing the way for the third angel’s message. In one place (near Mt. Ararat) one hundred fifty Christian people have been keeping the Sabbath for a number of years. Thirty of these have united with us, and the others are to be more thoroughly instructed in the truth, and we hope they will also take their stand.
Thousands of immigrants are rushing into Siberia. There they have no schools, no churches, and no social connections, but are hungry for the word of life. One of our young brethren living in this great field attended the East Russian meeting, and returned with one hundred fifty rubles’ worth of books, which he hoped to sell this winter. We have but one ordained minister for the seven million people in Siberia. He can scarcely answer the calls that come for him to organize new companies in this great land. We are trying to have some of our older Sabbath-keepers settle in Siberia, that they may strengthen our work there, and prove a blessing and a light to those who are coming into the country. From the present outlook, it seems to us that this will soon be a well-organized and self-supporting field. American tradesmen are taking advantage of the situation by importing and selling large numbers of farming implements; indeed, they themselves are personally upon the ground, and are rapidly amassing large fortunes.
Urgent calls also come from central Asia, where we have a good company upholding the banner of truth. With tears in their eyes, they plead for help. We could only assure them that the Russian Union Conference would do all in its power to send some worker to their assistance.
At the meeting in the South Russian Conference (at Alexandrovsk) it was our privilege to ordain our first Russian native minister. He received his preparation for the work in Friedensau. There he learned the German language, and became thoroughly acquainted with the principles of present truth. He then returned to Russia, where he has labored in various fields as a Bible worker and licentiate. Last year he worked in Sebastopol, in the Crimea, where the Lord richly blessed his efforts, and enabled him to raise up a good church.
TWO RUSSIAN COLORTOUREURS
We were glad to see the manner in which God opened the way for us to hold public meetings. Heretofore it has been difficult to secure permission to conduct lectures for the public. Indeed, at Alexandrovsk for a time it almost seemed that we would not be granted the right to hold our annual meeting. We appealed to Stolypin, and soon secured the necessary permission. Night after night hundreds of interested listeners eagerly devoured the word. The orthodox clergy, seeing what they had never expected to see, also attended the meetings, having equipped themselves beforehand with our literature, intending to combat the truth presented. In an open meeting they challenged us to a debate. We would not accept, as we had no permission from the government to deviate from the program that had been submitted to, and sanctioned by, the governor. Seeing they were defeated, the following Sunday they took up our points of faith in their meetings. This only created a greater desire to hear the truth. We could see this very plainly at the last meeting we held, when the whole congregation arose and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for having been privileged to listen to such wonderful truth. They then added, “Will you now leave us as sheep without a shepherd?” We left workers behind, to continue the meetings, and follow up the interest.
On the other hand, we as a people expressed our gratitude to Stolypin and to the czar, in a telegram, giving the vote of thanks passed by the conference for the permission to hold the meeting.
Urgent calls also came from every quarter of this conference for additional help, especially in the Russian language. We were glad to welcome a young student who had just come from Friedensau. He was at once listed among the workers, and will remain in Alexandrovsk.
The meeting in the West Russian Mission was conducted in the famous revolutionary center—Lodz. We were interested to see the care exercised by the government here in the transportation of the mails; about fifteen mounted soldiers, heavily armed, accompany the post to and from the trains. Soldiers guard the approaches to the post-office; the sidewalks surrounding it are fenced in from the public. When entering the post-office, one must leave his umbrella in charge of the soldier near the door. The policemen on the streets carry a saber on one side, and a repeating Winchester rifle on the other. Last Friday a strike was declared in one of the largest factories. At once the proprietors telephoned to the police headquarters. Immediately the police appeared upon the scene with a number of Cossacks, who seized the factory, and demanded that the strikers go to work, or submit to arrest. A number who refused to work were marched off to jail. No strikes are allowed in Lodz.
In the midst of this turmoil we are conducting meetings in a public hall, feeling that the hand of God is over us. The evening meetings are well attended by those not of our faith, although the pastors have taken great pains to warn the people against us. The West Russian Mission field has about fifteen million Poles, and about four million Jews. The Testimonies assure us that many Jews will yet embrace the truth. However, we have no worker among them, nor for these millions of Poles. We have sent a German worker to Warsaw, to work as best he can to get a foothold in that city. We hope and pray that all these fields may be supplied with earnest workers, and that means may come into the treasury for their support.
At every meeting we presented the great necessity of having a Russian school for the education of workers. We told the brethren of the help our American friends are rendering this enterprise. This brought tears of joy, and they also gave liberally of their meager earnings, hoping that the way may soon open for the erection of this school.
We are thankful to the Lord for the favorable outlook in this great field. The courage of the workers is good, and all are determined, in spite of difficulties, to press the battle on to victory.
Riga.
Our Debt to the Spanish People
By B. E. CONNERLY
B. E. CONNERLY
THAT Seventh-day Adventists as a denomination are indebted to all people alike, by virtue of the message that they are bidden to proclaim to “all nations,” is evident. A review of the history of the Spanish people impresses me that, first as Americans, second as Protestants, and third as Adventists, we are under special obligations to the Spanish people for two reasons: (1) for thirteen centuries Rome has deceived them, and held them in an iron grip, that only the power of the Infinite can break; and (2) because the Spanish people, both in Spain and in Latin America, have been shamefully neglected by Protestant missionaries.
A CATHOLIC CHURCH IN A SPANISH-SPEAKING FIELD, FILLED TO OVERFLOWING
The Spanish people become more interesting to us when we remember that Spain was a nation of forty or fifty million inhabitants before the Christian era, and that in the palmy days of Rome the great Julius Cæsar was one of her provincial governors. Spain, as a part of that great iron kingdom of the Cæsars that had filled the cup of her iniquity to the brim, was overrun and settled by barbarians from the north early in the fifth century, and a hundred years later these simple people, who had left their quiet homes, in fulfilment of the prophecy of Daniel, were visited and seduced by “that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess;” and it is evident that she found as prolific a soil among the Visigoths of Spain as that first Jezebel found in backslidden Israel in the days of Ahab.
Spain has always been very religious, and among all the Catholic nations she has been most Catholic, the most obedient to the commands of the holy see at Rome, and her sovereign was made “the eldest son of the church.” It was she who early established the Inquisition in her territory, and for six hundred twenty-five years she persecuted and put to death multitudes of men, women, and children by means too terrible to contemplate. In the days of Ferdinand and Isabella the Inquisition was sanctioned by the civil authority, and became the Holy Office, with an inquisitor-general and a host of auxiliary officers. Under this Holy Office Spain killed and banished millions of Jews, Moors, and Hollanders, the best, richest, and most industrious of her subjects, finishing last of all in the year 1826 with the few Protestants within her borders. The history of Rome is that of tyranny from whatever standpoint she is viewed. To her own faithful ones, the “bone of her bone and flesh of her flesh,” as one writer has put it, she offered the discipline of the scourge, weary pilgrimages, famishing hunger, and bodily abasement; and to those who dared to dissent were given the rack, the stake, the thumb-screw, banishment, and confiscation of property.
When the papacy was at the zenith of her power, Europe was languishing in the darkness of superstition and ignorance. But God did not forsake the nations at this time. To dispel the gloom he raised up Wyclif in England, Mathias, Huss, and Jerome in Austria and Bohemia, Savonarola, in Italy, the invincible Luther in Germany, and Calvin in France. But Spain had so bitterly opposed herself that even in this time of God’s power there could seemingly no witness arise there. God’s hand in humbling power must first rest upon proud Spain; and this it did.
During the sixteenth century Spain had not a peer among the nations, her military power was supreme by land and sea, but when in the time of Philip II she tried to rob and humble the liberty-loving and peaceful Dutch, she entered upon the road that led to decay. Her hitherto invincible armies lost their valor in the lowlands of Holland, England defeated her famed Armada in 1588, and her decline continued until she was humbled by the United States, and left a second-rate power, without colonies, wealth, or glory.
While in the entire history of Spain we find indeed little that excites our admiration or calls out our sympathies, still she is one of those nations which has been deceived by that “mother of harlots,” and God has said that she should have “space to repent;” but she can not repent until she has been made to hear the gospel and know the truth. It rejoices our hearts to know that a successful beginning has been made in Spain, where eighteen millions await the message.
We of the United States should not boast of our religious privileges over our sister republics of the south; for if God had not interposed, the great navigator that Spain sent out with the burning theory of “westward, ever westward, till the west becomes the east,” would have landed Columbus on the eastern shore of our Southern States, and thus our fair country have been given to Spanish misrule and Roman tyranny. In Latin America there are eighteen countries which have, one by one, obtained their liberty from the oppressive yoke of the mother country, and to-day these all stand open to civil and religious liberty. Here forty-eight million people are waiting for the advent message, and they have waited until our neglect has become proverbial. Here are multitudes of Indians, descendants of a noble race who have been persecuted and robbed since the day when Spanish explorers set foot on their fertile soil. Nothing but the advent message can bring redress to this perishing race.
The United States government has been a prime factor in preparing these countries for the gospel, and faithful Bible agents are doing much toward getting the Scriptures into the homes of the people. We have made a beginning in all these countries but five, but O, how little it seems when compared with what there is yet to be done!
Brethren, God has blessed us, and has made of us a great and well-ordered people; and though to enter these Catholic fields requires courage, wisdom, and love, we are well able to carry this precious message to these waiting people in this generation.
Mayaguez, Porto Rico.
Witnesses Unto Me
“AND ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
The Convention of Self-Supporting Missionaries
By P. T. MAGAN
DURING the past few years every department of work in the third angel's message has made great advancement. Schools, colleges, sanitariums, and publishing plants have been established and equipped with great rapidity. All these have been greatly blessed of God in spreading the last warning message to the world.
At the same time, in a more definite and positive manner than ever before, there has been a movement upon the part of the lay members of this faith to engage in self-supporting missionary work.
Conditions in the Southern United States have seemed especially adapted to missionary effort of this character, and there has been much instruction from the spirit of prophecy relative to this point. In 1891 it was written with special reference to the Southern field:—
“God will accept many more workers from the humble walks of life if they will fully consecrate themselves to his service. Men and women should be coming up to carry the truth into all the highways and byways of life. Not all can go through a long course of education, but if they are consecrated to God, and learn of him, many can without this do much to bless others. Thousands would be accepted if they would give themselves to God. Not all who labor in this line should depend upon the conferences for support. Let those who can do so, give their time, and what ability they have; let them be messengers of God's grace, their hearts throbbing in unison with Christ's great heart of love, their ears open to hear the Macedonian cry.
“The whole church needs to be imbued with the missionary spirit; then there will be many to work unselfishly in various ways as they can, without being salaried.”
In the REVIEW AND HERALD of Nov. 26, 1895, it was written:—
“Where are the families who will become missionaries, and who will engage in labor in this field? Where are the men who have means and experience so that they can go forth to these people, and work for them just where they are? There are men who can educate them in agricultural lines, who can teach the colored people to sow seed and plant orchards. There are others who can teach them to read, and can give them an object-lesson from their own life and example. Show them what you yourself can do to gain a livelihood, and it will be an education to them. Are we not called upon to do this very work?”
And again:—
“God calls for missionaries, and asks us to take up our neglected duties. Let farmers, financiers, builders, and those who are skilled in various arts and crafts, go to this field to improve lands, and to build humble cottages for themselves and their neighbors. Christ says to you, Lift up your eyes, and look upon this Southern field; for it needs the sowers of seed and the reapers of grain.” And lastly:—
“It is not ministers who can preach that are needed so much as men and women who understand how to teach the truth to poor, ignorant, needy, and oppressed people. . . . It needs men and women who will not be sent to the Southern field by our people, but who will feel the burden to go into this neglected portion of the vineyard of the Lord.”—Testimony, June 21, 1899.
The preceding Testimonies, and others of a similar nature, have caused a considerable number of men and women to engage in this kind of work in the Southern field. As time has passed, these have felt their need of meeting together for prayer and counsel and study.
As a result of this, a convention of self-supporting workers was called to meet at the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, Madison, Tenn., opening October 15, and continuing for ten days.
It was especially desired by those who have been active in the self-supporting movement that there should be a goodly representation of leading men from the regularly organized work in attendance at this gathering. We have felt that, while self-supporting work is in its infancy, a mold which God can bless must be put upon it, and that we should all speak the same things, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
We have sincerely felt that there must be a spirit of brotherly confidence between the conference employed workers and the self-supporting worker. We knew that this spirit was reciprocated by many of the brethren at the head of the work, and consequently we were glad to welcome a large delegation of our general laborers to this meeting, among whom were Elders A. G. Daniells, S. N. Haskell, George A. Irwin, R. A. Underwood, George B. Thompson, C. F. McVagh, W. A. Westworth, and John W. Christian, and Prof. Frederick Griggs, and others.
The attendance at the convention was quite general in its nature. A large number of the brethren and sisters, from the North, East, and West, who are interested in self-supporting work, paid a visit to the South for the special purpose of attending this meeting and getting a glimpse of this kind of work for themselves.
The representation of self-supporting workers was also very good. Many of the teachers from the small schools, which have been started as a result of the work of the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, were in attendance. Among these were Brother and Sister C. F. Alden, from the school at Ridgetop, Tenn.; Brethren Christian and John Holm and their wives, from the Paradise Ridge School; Brother and Sister Braiden F. Mulford, from the school at Fountain Head, Tenn.
Elders Haskell and Irwin acted as chairmen of the convention, and the writer as secretary.
At nine o'clock each morning Elder Haskell conducted a Bible study in the chapel at Gotzian Hall. These studies were a great inspiration to all. That God remarkably blessed his servant in bringing forth things new and old from the Scriptures was very manifest to the entire gathering.
From 10 A. M. to 12:30 each day was taken up with papers, talks, and discussions having special relation to self-supporting missionary work. These were participated in by teachers, doctors, medical missionary nurses, canvassers, periodical workers, missionary farmers, carpenters, and others.
The afternoon program was much the same as that of the forenoon, and the day was closed with two studies of one hour each, in the evening, on the Bible and the spirit of prophecy. Several excellent Bible readings of a practical nature were given by Sister Hettie Haskell.
P. T. MAGAN.
Haiti
By U. Bender
SUNDAY, September 27, I left Kingston, Jamaica, on the steamship “Assyria,” for Cape Haitien, Haiti. As the ship stopped at several ports for cargo, it took ten days to make the voyage of six hundred miles. Except for a day and a night spent in a hard storm, the time passed very pleasantly.
I went ashore at several ports where the boat stopped, but found little difference save in the size of the towns and the lay of the ground. The same broken-down, dilapidated appearance is to be seen at almost every turn, from the water-front to the very edge of the towns. I asked the captain of the ship why the people did not repair their wharfs, so that the work of loading cargo would be much easier. He said, “The word repair is not in their dictionary.” They have their quantity of contentment, pleasure, and happiness, but I am not desirous of testing the quality thereof.
Things seemed very quiet in the republic, so far as political trouble is concerned. While I was there, the wife of the president died, and as she seemed to be the mainstay of the old man, who is not less than ninety-eight years old, this sad event may open the way for a new movement of some kind.
I found Elder W. J. Tanner and family well. They are of good courage, for the work has prospered during the past year, in spite of the troublous times in the republic.
About a year ago the West Indian Union Conference voted six hundred dollars to erect a place of worship at Grand Riviere. This is an important town in the northern part of Haiti. We have quite a large company of believers there, so it is naturally a center for our work in the northern part of the island. The building is twenty by thirty feet inside, with walls of brick and stone eighteen inches thick. There is also a vestry built on the rear, twelve by fourteen feet, to accommodate the minister when he visits them.
I visited this place with Elder Tanner, and was much pleased to see the progress in building, but the most encouraging feature is the progress the brethren and sisters of this church have made in the love of the truth. This was evident from their appearance and actions. I could not understand their speech, but16what people do is a stronger argument than their words.
Sabbath, October 10, was a day of rejoicing for the little company at Cape Haitien, it being their privilege to meet in a public place for the first time. In the past they have had their meetings in Elder Tanner’s house, but now they are able to rent a little room on the street, where the people can see and hear as they pass. To a newcomer, this little room, with six home-made seats and a few chairs, furnishing seats for not more than forty in all, with a little platform and desk for the minister, would not appear very grand; but to those who had worked and prayed for years for the advancement of the truth, the privilege of having this place in which to meet was an evidence of divine favor and blessing, for which they raised their voices in praise to God.
Elder Tanner has been able, during the last year, to speak to our own people in French, and has now begun to speak to the public in French on some subjects. This means a great deal for our work there.
Brethren and sisters, pray with us for Elder Tanner and his family, that their health may be preserved, and that day by day they may have “courage to face the road, good cheer to help to bear the travelers’ load.” May the Lord bless his servants, and seal them to the work among this people.
My next stop will be in Porto Rico, with Elder B. E. Connerly and wife.
U. BENDER.
Itinerating in Korea
By Mimi Scharffenberg
I HAVE been out among the churches, and have spent almost a week at Kangdemuro, studying with the women there. The interest is good; the whole village is reported to be Sabbath-keepers, and also some of the neighboring villages. But of course that is what the natives tell us. Nevertheless I believe that if some one could be there to instruct them, many would really be won to the truth.
JAPANESE SECTION OF PYONG YANG, KOREA
It was hard to study with the sisters at that place, for there was not one able to read. Neither had any attended church before. So I had to begin at the very beginning, and teach them the same as we do little children at home. They would gather at seven in the morning, and stay with me all day till ten at night, and it was hard to get time to eat. Each day they would recite what they had learned the day before, to be sure that it was all correct in their minds. The last day they could tell, in simple story form, the creation of the world, the fall of man, the birth of Christ, his work for us, his death, resurrection, and coming again. It did me much good to hear them exclaim, “How wonderful all this is!” and tell how sorry they were that I had not come to them before. The men also need instruction. They are a little better off than the women, because they can study the Bible for themselves. But they need to be converted.
At other places also I had many interesting experiences. The more I am out among the people, the more I feel to thank the Lord for the blessed privilege of having a part in this closing work. Sometimes when we think about the condition of the work here, and how much these people have to learn, it may look discouraging. But we have a few among us here who seem to realize the condition of our companies, and who really have a burden for the conversion of the people. I was much impressed with what I heard at one place, where a few faithful souls have joined together in praying for their church. At first they prayed that they might realize what sin is, and feel sorry for it; then they prayed that each one might get strength from on high to overcome his sins.
On account of heavy rain-storms it was a trip with many difficulties, but I enjoyed it. The first of August I moved, and now have a nice little home. We wonder every day when the new workers will get here.
