p. 19 | Australia by R. D. Quinn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 15, 1903

Australia

By R. D. Quinn

IN company with others whom the General Conference had recommended to labor in Australia, my wife and I set sail July 16 from San Francisco for Sydney. For the most part the voyage was smooth and enjoyable. When at our destination, we were given a hearty welcome by our brethren, and were entertained at our new sanitarium, located in the suburbs of Sydney.

The union conference, which was to have met soon after our arrival, was postponed for nearly a month, as Elder Irwin was unable to reach Australia from Europe until August 29. However, we found plenty of work. Our brethren here are in the midst of their work with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and being requested to visit some of the churches, and help them all we could, we went to Wallsend, where we have a small church of twenty-two members. We spent our time laboring for the church, holding Bible readings, and canvassing. We found many honest ones who listened to the truths for this time with deep interest. The first day among the people with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” we took sixteen orders in five hours. This shows that God has opened the hearts of this people for the truth. It is indeed a blessed privilege to labor in these needy fields where the work has been

hindered for lack of workers and money. But we know that there is to be no more delay, and by the Holy Spirit’s power we shall be able to push the triumphs of the cross in Australia.

We have been holding readings and canvassing in West Wallsend, a prosperous town about eight miles from Wallsend, with a population of fifteen hundred. We found at least a score of people who seemed much interested in our work, and desired to hear more of our faith. This place is only sixteen miles from Cooranbong, the center of our educational work in the Australasian field, and still there has never been a sermon preached in this place by our people. By this you will see that there is yet a vast work to be done in Australia, as well as among the fifty million heathen who wait in the isles of the sea for God’s law.

We are going to the work full of courage and faith, relying upon that more sure word of prophecy which is saying to us, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” For “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God.” And again, “If any delay, the character of God and his throne will be compromised.” With this tremendous issue before us, there is but one thing to do, and that is to surrender absolutely and unconditionally to a life of loving service; for “the great outpouring of the Spirit of God which lightens the whole earth with his glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, who know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, whole-hearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of his Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.” Let us therefore seek the Lord for a real experience, and hasten to the work. R. D. QUINN.