A Sabbath at Caterham, England
By M. E. Olsen
AFTER an absence of nearly a year I had the pleasure of spending a recent Sabbath at the Caterham Sanitarium, and it occurred to me that the readers of the REVIEW, many of whom have contributed toward the purchase of this institution, might be interested in a brief account of the visit. I arrived there Friday evening a little after sundown. They had had their evening worship in the parlor, attended quite fully by helpers and patients, and the helpers had all assembled in their own little chapel for the evening Testimony study. There were just eighteen of us, including a brother who is engaged in traveling for our food company, and one of our own people who is a patient. Every helper in the building, as far as I am aware, with the exception of one who had to remain in the office to answer the bell, was present. We had a precious prayer season together, in which all took part. This was followed by a brief study conducted by the superintendent, based upon the chapter on the “Extension of the Work in Foreign Fields,” in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI. It was cheering to note the hearty response which came from the workers present. I looked about me and saw a number of faces with whom I was familiar, and others who had come in more recently. We have workers there from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, also from Germany, Switzerland, and America; so it makes quite a representative family. The study was on missionary work. Much was said in reference to the progress of the work in foreign fields, and the thought was impressed that the time might soon come when some workers who had received a training at Caterham would be sent to those needy fields. It was good to look about on the earnest20faces, and feel that they would all be willing to go if they were called. Sabbath morning at worship I met a Mr. Owen, a leading clergyman of Wales who is an intimate friend of Evan Roberts, the young evangelist who was chiefly instrumental in bringing about the Welsh revival; also another clergyman who is pastor of a Congregational church in London, the manager of a large temperance publishing company; and other interesting people. The Sabbath-school was held in the gymnasium, and was attended by the helpers, and quite largely by the patients. It was conducted by Elder Ritchie, who happened to be there at the time as a patient. A very interesting hour was spent in the study of the lesson. Truly the Lord is using our little institution at Caterham to bring us in touch with earnest and efficient people in this kingdom, many of whom we might not be able to reach so well in any other way. The outlook is encouraging for a much larger work. We feel deeply grateful to our brethren in America for helping us to get this institution started, and feel confident that in God's hands it will not prove in vain. We desire the continued prayers of the friends of the work that it may be so conducted as to accomplish the greatest possible amount of good.