The Canadian Union Conference is bounded on the north by unknown regions, on the south by the United States, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by Manitoba. It embraces the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, and has an area of 662,350 square miles, and a population of nearly five million.
There are three local conferences and a mission field in the Canadian Union,—Ontario, Quebec, Maritime, the latter embracing three provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island), and Newfoundland Mission field.
There are thirty-nine churches, nine companies, and ninety-three isolated Sabbath-keepers, making a total membership of 990; fifty-one Sabbath-schools, and a few young people's societies, the exact number not reported. There are only twenty church buildings in the conference, the rest of the churches holding services in rented buildings.
Our staff of laborers in the Canadian Union Conference is as follows: twelve ordained ministers, four licensed ministers, four licensed missionaries, or Bible workers, and eight canvassers, making a total of twenty-eight.
Evangelical Work
During the summer our ministers engage largely in tent work; but during the winter, in view of the abundance of snow and the extreme cold weather, they work largely in the cities, the presidents of conferences devoting what time is necessary to visiting the churches, strengthening the brethren, and attending to regular conference work.
The results of the efforts in this line of work have not been what we had hoped for, but we are thankful for what has been accomplished, there being sixty-two accessions to the conference.
Educational Work
We have five church-schools and two academies, with a total enrolment of one hundred and twenty-eight. One of the academies is located in the Ontario Conference, fifteen miles from the city of Toronto, and is known as the Lornedale Academy; the other is in the Maritime Conference, fifteen miles from Oxford Junction, and is known as the Farmington Academy. There are twelve students in the Farmington Academy and fourteen in the Lornedale Academy.
These schools are now finishing their second year's work with good results. The schools were started under difficult circumstances and perplexities, but realizing the great need, the brethren were determined to establish these institutions of education that our young people may be educated and trained for the work of God in their own country.
Medical Work
In view of the instruction given regarding the medical work, and believing that the time had come to establish this department of the work in Canada, property was purchased by the Quebec Conference, and a sanitarium started in Knowlton, Quebec, July, 1903, with Dr. W. H. White in charge.
This work has been carried on very economically, and the Lord has blessed the efforts. This institution is exerting an influence that is indeed gratifying. The sanitarium is not only a blessing to suffering humanity, but from it emanates the gospel of health to all people.
During a recent visit to the sanitarium I found patients there from two hundred miles away, and all expressed themselves as much pleased with the treatment received. One patient said to me, “I am not only getting well, but am learning how to keep well and to live a better life.”
This is also a place where our young men and young women can go and receive instruction and training for medical missionary work in their own country, which is very desirable, and there are twelve of our best young men and women in training there now, and others are preparing to come at the beginning of the next year's course. We hope for workers as the result.
The present capacity will accommodate twenty-five patients. The patronage is gradually increasing, and the rooms have all been occupied the most of the time for several months. A little more room and better facilities are needed in order to do successful work and meet the demands of the public. Treatment rooms have recently been opened in Lindsay, with Sadie Baker in charge.
For the past six years Dr. C. V. S. Boettger and his wife have been conducting a hygienic institute in Ottawa, equipped with X-ray and electro-therapeutic laboratory, and they are doing a good work.
A French sister, Virginia Gobelle by name, has treatment rooms in a suburb of Montreal, making dieting, fasting, and massage specialties; her rooms are well patronized, especially by the French people.
Neither of the two last-named institutions are under conference management, but are conducted as private, or independent, enterprises.
The treatment rooms in St. John's, Newfoundland, have been discontinued, as Dr. Lemon desired to leave the island, and no one was available for the place.
Publishing Work
This department of the work has given us much perplexity. We have not been able to impress a large number with the importance of the book work, and the expense connected with it—freight, duty, customs, rent, office expenses, etc.—has been great, while we have also had to compete with the States in prices; this has resulted in a loss.
Our balance sheets show a loss in this department for 1904 of $881.38, but the actual loss in conducting the business was only $208.08, the remaining $673.75 being by fire and refused accounts. To insure success, some change should be made in this department, and we are prepared to give full information and counsel at the proper time.
Finance
Total tithe receipts for the biennial term, $15,439.65. Amount per capita, $15.59. Amount per capita for each local conference for 1904: Ontario, $8.28 1-2; Quebec, $8.28 2-3; Maritime, $6.86 1-2, Newfoundland, $7.88.
Annual offerings to missions. $ 1,195 63
Weekly offerings to missions 1,220 73.12
Miscellaneous offerings to missions ..... 248 60
Sabbath-school offerings ..... 1,730 21
Sabbath-school offerings to missions ................ 897 81
Total offerings to missions. $ 3,562 77
Appropriations to the C. U. C. by Mission Board ..... 8,570 00
Retail value of books sold. 11,481 49
Comparisons
As the Canadian Union Conference has been operating only three years, I will give comparisons for that time:—
Tithe for 1902, $7,891.34; for 1903, $7,405.10, a falling off of $486.24; for 1904, $8,034.55, an increase of $629.45 over 1903.
Offerings to missions for 1902, $1,389.10; for 1903, $1,538.33, an increase of $149.20; for 1904, $1,974.44, an increase of $436.11.
The tithes and offerings are not what might be expected, but the spiritual condition of the conference is good, and the tithes and offerings are increasing. We are endeavoring to keep before the people the true principles of loyalty and the blessings of liberality, as well as the importance of the work and the great field before us.
Our constituency is small, territory large, and laborers few; hence the work moves rather slowly in our field.
The establishing of the two academies and the sanitarium gives character to the work, and while we do not expect that they will develop into large institutions, they are already demonstrating their utility, and it is believed that they will be great factors in developing the work, as well as in supplying workers for the Canadian field.
Our Needs
We need twelve or more good ministers, a few Bible workers, and two or three doctors to join our force of laborers in the Canadian Union Conference, that a good constituency may be built up and this will strengthen the work in all its departments.
These workers could be sent and supported by local conferences in the home field until they can become self-supporting. The Mission Board recently sent Brother George Skinner and his wife to Montreal to labor, and Brother Skinner is being supported by the Iowa Conference. This was a great encouragement to the believers in Montreal, as well as to the Quebec Conference. This is only a beginning of what might be done, and of what we hope will be done for the Canadian field. The work could be further strengthened and built up if a few experienced canvassers would locate permanently in Canada and take the lead. This would encourage others to take up the book work.
About a year ago Elder F. A. Tracy and his wife went to Newfoundland, and he has been laboring in St. John's with good results. Elder Tracy feels that the work in the city should not be neglected, and yet there are urgent calls for help coming in from the outposts. A good minister of experience should be sent to join Elder Tracy in the work there. The educational work in the island should receive some assistance financially in the near future, that better facilities may be provided for this department.
Our schools in Canada need some further help in becoming established, and the sanitarium needs the rest of the money planned to be raised for it last fall, and we trust that this is forthcoming. As workers we need to realize more and more the importance of the work and the solemnity of our message, and we need more of the Spirit and power of the Master in proclaiming the message.
Policy to Be Pursued
As the field is quite well organized now, the president can devote considerable of his time to field work, visiting the local conferences at the time of their spring and fall councils and annual camp-meetings, keeping in touch with the entire field through correspondence.
Our laborers should be located with the view of strengthening the work in hand and raising up new churches, in the cities as well as in the country. We should have ministers permanently located in our large cities, such as Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and St. John's.
I would favor abolishing the Canadian publishing house, dividing the stock among the local conferences, re-establishing local tract societies, and letting each local conference conduct the book business in its territory, dealing directly with the Review and Herald publishing house. I believe this would be more satisfactory to the field, and less expensive, and that greater results would be realized; either this or a branch office established by the Review and Herald publishing house.
Our young people should be encouraged to attend the academies and to take the course at the sanitarium, with the view of preparing themselves for the Master's work in Canada. In this way native workers will be developed for the harvest, and the work will be strengthened in all lines.
A strong effort should be made to revive the canvassing work, and proper persons should be encouraged to enter this branch of the missionary work by providing them with necessary instruction and help in starting, to insure success. A line of instruction should be continued through the Union paper as well as by personal efforts, with our churches, with the view of enlisting all in active missionary work.
A systematic effort should be continued with “Christ's Object Lessons” to aid the educational work, and a campaign inaugurated with the “Ministry of Healing” for the benefit of the medical work. All can have part in this, and great good may be accomplished if faithful work is done.
These are some of the points which I would consider essential to success, and if the needed help is supplied, and aggressive work is done, the Lord will bless the efforts, and ere long the conference will become self-supporting.
In conclusion, I would say that we are thankful to God for the prosperity which has attended the work, and for a humble part in finishing the gospel work in the earth. With all our mistakes and failures, the Lord has been good to us, and to him be all the praise for what has been accomplished.
W. H. THURSTON,
President.
Malay Peninsula and the Philippines
This island field is a large one. I am sure we have never sensed its magnitude. When we speak of the islands of the sea, we think of little spots that are dotted here and there in the great oceans. We do not realize that many are larger than six or eight of our States. I have learned this in the course of my travels. As we passed through one space which is blank on the map, we found in it two archipelagoes,—one with thirty islands, the other with more than twenty,—and every island was inhabited, the population varying from one hundred and fifty to five hundred. This one spot is no exception to the general rule. All around the New Guinea coast there are islands which are not marked on the map. In the Java Sea, from the northern part of Java to Singapore, we see but three islands on the map, but those who are familiar with this region tell me that there are a thousand islands in that space.
Take New Guinea. It has as large an area as the States of North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Borneo embraces as much territory as Oklahoma, Indian Territory, and Texas; and Texas is as large as five of the ordinary States. Celebes has an area equal to that of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland. Java is as large as Utah. Sumatra's area equals that of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware. In seven of these large islands there are forty million people.
One question has been asked me several times since I have returned to the United States: “Do you think that those people are intelligent enough to be worth the effort that we are putting forth for them?” I know that the impression generally is that these people are of such a low order of intelligence that it seems almost useless to try to bring them to the gospel. I want to tell you, from our experience in these fields, that this is a very great mistake. I believe that these people, although they have lived for centuries in heathen darkness and blindness, have minds that will comprehend the truth; and they will comprehend it more readily than you and I suppose.
They are not idolaters in the sense13that they bow down to wood and stone. They are superstitious, and they have traditions, but they do not set up idols to worship. And I find that they have some traditions that give evidence that at some time in their past history they have had a knowledge of the Bible. We stopped at the island of Semari, just at the point of New Guinea. There the natives have this tradition: Many hundreds of years ago a man came down from heaven to earth regularly. There was a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. This ladder was made of the rattan vine, which grows on the island. This vine is very strong, grows to immense length, and is used instead of rope. Every time the man came down to earth, he brought with him a black pig. When he went back, they gave him a white pig, which he took with him. One time, when he had transacted his business, and was ready to go back, they gave him a spotted pig—part white and part black. This insulted him, and when he went back to heaven, he cut the ladder, and it fell to earth, and since that time there has been no communication between earth and heaven. Where did they get such a story as this if they did not at some time have a knowledge of the Bible? They must have had some knowledge of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament.
From these things we see that there is an intelligence even among these black people who have been so recently in cannibalism. Some in the interior of these islands are still practising cannibalism, and only the very best of them have been out of it perhaps but little more than half a century.
In our school at Avondale, Australia, we have had some pupils from these islands. We have had some from Fiji, who have been converted and were brought there to school. These young men, when in school, learn just as rapidly as the white people. They are just as obedient to the rules, and in every way their deportment is just as good. That demonstrates to me that they have bright minds and are susceptible to the gospel. And when it is carried to them in its purity and simplicity, in such a way that it may become the power of God unto salvation, I believe they will respond to it.
One thing I have noticed is that when missionaries once come in touch with these people, even with those in the darkest countries, they become greatly attached to the natives, and are unwilling to leave them. Brother Fulton lost his health, and had to go to Australia to regain it. All the time he was there, he was anxious to go back to the islands, and was very glad when the day came for him to return. When the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion, I believe there will be many in the company who have been gathered in from these dark islands of the sea.
Singapore
Singapore is the important center of all the East Indian field. It is on an island at the point of the Malay Peninsula. The population is 288,555. It is the seventh great commercial center of the world; London, New York, Hamburg, Antwerp, Hongkong, and Liverpool ranking before it. It is right in the artery that carries the life-blood of commerce around the world. Singapore has one of the most commodious harbors in the world. I was astonished beyond measure, when we steamed into that port, to see the shipping. There were ocean vessels from all over the world; the harbor was full of them. Singapore is not only a great commercial center, but an educational center as well, for this field. Every denomination recognizes this fact.
PALM DRIVE WAY, MANILA
The Straits Settlements is a free port. You are not bothered by the customs officer. The town of Singapore is English. It does not owe a dollar of debt; last year its income, above all debts, was $425,000.
Singapore is the most cosmopolitan city of the world. Every nation, kindred, tongue, and people is represented there. The Straits Settlements has a population of a little more than half a million. The largest number of any one nationality are the Chinese, with 281,000. The Malays come next. As you travel on the streets, you can hear every language spoken. The government is very liberal. I regard this as a very important place for missionary operations. I believe there is a grand opening there for our medical work.
I visited the American consul. He was very kind to me, and I secured from him all the information I expected to obtain. The next day he sent for me to come back. I went, and he began at once to speak of our medical work. Elder Gates had been there, and had told him something of this branch of the work, and he knew that I was there spying out a station. He said: “Mr. Irwin, if the time comes when you get a physician here and are ready to open medical work in this city, I stand ready to do anything I can to assist you. If you will come to me, I can go with you to the governor of the island and to the members of parliament, and I believe they will give you a grant of land, and assist you in your work. That kind of work is very much needed in this island. There is a great deal of sickness, and nurses are very scarce, and I believe your medical work would do a great deal of good.”
We already have a mission there. Brother and Sister Jones had been in Singapore about a month before I arrived. Brother Caldwell also went there from Australia, as a canvasser.
We held a council in Singapore. There were only five of us, but I know that the Lord was with us in that council. He blessed us as we prayed over the work. We asked him to guide us in what ought to be done to establish the work there. These workers were laboring under adverse circumstances. They had no money. They had no furniture in the house which they had rented, except one or two chairs that had been donated. Yet they were just as happy as they could be in their work. I believe the Lord is going before them. In fact, since we left them, we have heard that four persons have already begun to observe the Sabbath, through the efforts of these workers. They are missionaries in the truest sense, working among the people, and at the same time studying the Malay language. Brother Munson was there with me, and he gave them a lesson every morning from five to six o’clock. They were learning the language very nicely, and at the same time were going among the English families, working. Brother and Sister Jones were distributing tracts and papers, holding Bible readings and praying with the people, and success was attending their labors. We recommended that two nurses be sent to assist in the work in Singapore. The Australasian committee has selected two of the best nurses in the Wahroonga Sanitarium, and they are now on the ground.
The Philippines
I went from Singapore to Hongkong, and from there to the Philippines. I spent eight days in Manila, where I learned a great many things about this group that I could not have learned had I not gone there. Of the Protestant denominations, the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Disciple, Brethren, and14Episcopal are represented. They have formed what they call the “Evangelical Society,” to which all the denominations belong except the Episcopalians. The denominations have divided the territory among them, so they will not conflict with one another in their teachings, and thus confuse the native mind. I had two or three pleasant visits with the Presbyterian minister. After learning who I was, he invited me into his pulpit with him, and requested me to open his meeting with prayer, and to pronounce the benediction at its close. The Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians are operating in the city of Manila. The others are in adjoining islands or country districts.
A SCENE NEAR MANILA
There are 3,140 islands in the Philippine group. From the census of 1903, taken and published by the United States government, I find that the archipelago has a population of 7,635,426. Manila has a resident population of 219,928, and, besides, it is estimated that there are 15,901 in vessels and boats in the harbor. The United States employs and pays in full at the present time about 4,300 teachers, eight hundred of whom are Americans, at salaries ranging from one thousand to eighteen hundred dollars a year. The others are native teachers, who receive an average fifty dollars a month. All this force is engaged in teaching nothing but English.
There are eighteen papers and periodicals published in Manila,—four English dailies, three weeklies, and one monthly; seven Spanish dailies and two monthlies; one Filipino paper.
The language question is also a problem to be solved. In the whole field there are forty-seven different languages, besides a number of dialects. In Manila and its vicinity there are three languages in use,—English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The latter is the native language of this and some other minor provinces, and is used by these natives in speaking to one another. Spanish is still the official tongue, and will be, according to the general order, until Jan. 1, 1906, when the English is to take its place. It is claimed that there is more English spoken now than Spanish.
Notwithstanding the Spanish ruled the country for many years, they did not encourage the natives to learn Spanish, believing, as the Dutch do in the Netherlands East Indies, that it is easier to rule and control the native peoples when kept in ignorance of the language of their rulers.
War prices still prevail, and as a consequence living is very high. Wages are also high, but the spirit of extravagance that always accompanies high wages, uses all their surplus. The soldier gets sixteen dollars gold a month, and is roomed, boarded, and clothed, and yet very few of them save anything. Clerks in the departments get from one to two hundred dollars a month. Ordinary policemen get ninety-five dollars a month after the second year. Board and house rent are in proportion, or even higher. A small house such as white people care to live in, rents for from forty to sixty dollars gold a month; while larger and more commodious ones reach as high as seventy-five or one hundred dollars. A nipa house, or shack, as the Americans call it, rents for from ten to twelve gold dollars. In good weather foreigners could get along quite well in such a house, provided they could get one by themselves; but in the rainy and typhoon season, I should think those houses would be quite uncomfortable. I have talked with a number of the American business men in the town, and they say that the price of everything runs from twenty to thirty per cent higher than it does in the States.
While at the government offices to obtain a copy of the late census, I called on the governor-general, Mr. Luke Wright, of Memphis, Tenn. He received me in that cordial, graceful style for which the Southerners are noted. We had a very pleasant visit for fifteen minutes. During the conversation he asked me to what denomination I belonged, and when told, he smiled, and said, “Your people believe in working six days as well as resting on the seventh. It would not be a bad thing to have some of your people over here to teach these people how to work.” I asked, “Will you give us a free hand if we come?” “Surely,” he said; “this country is free to everybody except criminals.” He then referred to the fact that he was officially connected with the government of Tennessee when Don Dickerson came down to plead the cases of our brethren who were arrested in Obion County, and that he heard the trial through. So he is not a stranger to our belief on the Sabbath question.
I could have awakened quite an interest while here, had I thought it for the best. It soon became known at the hotel that I was an Adventist, and they wanted to know when that denomination came into existence, and what we believed. And when I told them a few things about the Sabbath and the second coming of Christ, they said, “That seems all right. Let us hear more.” But I did not wish to stir up their interest, as we had no one to labor among them.
Manila is the place in which to start our work. It seems to me that we should begin with canvassing. They did not know of any books ever having been sold there by subscription. They have an agent of the Bible Society, but I understand his work is confined to Bibles. I have heard of no law that would hinder any one from selling books on the subscription plan. Some have wondered if it would not be best to get some American canvassers, but I find quite an interest in, and good feeling toward, Australia and Australians, and I think that our Australian believers, with the books having the imprint of that country, could do a good work. They get their meat and butter from Australia, and why not their spiritual meat as well? We need men here who will not faint at little difficulties, or large ones, and turn homeward. A beginning should be made at the earliest possible moment. Each month of delay will make it more difficult.
FLOATING COCOANUTS TO MARKET ON PASIG RIVER
Portugal
By C. E. Rentfro
LISBON.— About two weeks ago a colporteur of the Bible Society was imprisoned five days, and his Bibles, amounting to over thirty-five dollars, were confiscated. He was dismissed without a trial. The authorities said the books contained matter contrary to the16established religion. This was in north Portugal. The minister of the Church of England is a Bible man. He interprets the Bible literally, unless it is very plainly figurative. At such a time the Bible is its own dictionary. He is conducting weekly Bible studies on the book of Daniel, and goes at it aright. I am having studies with him on the sanctuary question. As he is a much older man than I, I am taking the part of a learner. Next Sunday he will speak on Daniel 7. One Sunday he preached on the “Second Coming of Christ.” I gave him his first knowledge of the signs marking the generation. He said he would have to look up the subject. Their deaconess has called on us, and is introducing us to some prominent members of the church. We pray that God may bring this man and many of his flock into the truth. C. E. RENTFRO.
Central America
By H. C. GOODRICH
BELIZE, BRITISH HONDURAS.—I expect, the Lord willing, to go to the Bay Islands. We were ready to start last week, but Brother Bellenger has had an acute attack of rheumatism. He is better now.
The deacon of the Baptist church says he will keep next Sabbath. A policeman, whose ten-years' term of service expired in April, has determined to keep the Sabbath. Others are deciding. A brother who is doing some missionary visiting and Bible work said in last Monday night's missionary meeting, “All Belize is ready to hear the message. I trust it will not be long till we can have that Bible worker.”
Mr. Allen writes from La Ceiba that some are accepting the Sabbath there. They have started a little school, with a young Belize colored girl as teacher. A backslider has been reclaimed, a drunkard converted, and several Spaniards have accepted the truth.
The weather has turned very hot, and everybody is suffering from heat. I am well, and of good courage.
H. C. GOODRICH.
Panama
By C. E. Peckover
BOCAS DEL TORO.—The work here is onward, considering the disadvantages of this part of the field. The canal work is bringing together many thousands of different nationalities.
At the beginning of the year 1905 the Colon church had a membership of fourteen. Since then five Sabbath-keepers have been added, making a total membership of nineteen, with five or six more awaiting baptism.
C. E. PECKOVER.
Brazil
By F. W. Spies
CASTRO.—It is only a short time since we came to this place. Our work here is wholly among the natives, hence in the Portuguese tongue. We are beginning to realize more and more how great is the work in this vast field, as we look at our few workers, and remember that among those we do have, there are but few who can work in the Portuguese tongue. But I think the Lord will open the way so our number of workers may increase. We were gladdened by the news that we are soon to have two new workers. I hope those sent may soon learn the language, so as to be able to work for this people. And the way to learn the language is to get into the field, among the Brazilians and away from the Germans.
We are at present considering important questions—the location of the printing plant, and the location of the new workers who are coming to this field. We realize that this means much to us.
May the Lord continue to guide you in the important work at Washington, and thus glorify his name.
F. W. SPIES.
South America
By J. W. Westphal
WHILE I was in Chile, the work was well organized for another year's campaign , with good prospects. Yet when we consider the field our cry is still, More laborers. By all means we should have an ordained minister in both Peru and Ecuador, to follow after and unite with the colporteurs in the field. And then there is Bolivia without a laborer. There are but two ordained ministers in the field, — my brother, Elder F. H. Westphal, and Brother Thomann, and the latter is editor of the paper.
In the River Plate Conference the work is going forward. The young men who have gone out from the school are doing well. The reports show that since the first of the year fully twenty-five have begun to keep the Sabbath, and the work is getting a foothold in new provinces and important centers. These young men are willing to work, and work hard. Brother Ernst, who has gone to Paraguay, reports some people interested there. J. W. WESTPHAL.
Spain
By W. Robinson
BARCELONA.— We are glad to hear that "there is a sound of abundance of rain." O that it might fall on these Roman Catholic countries, where both Brother Rentfro and I find a deathlike spell over the unfortunate inhabitants! I had a letter from him the other day, telling me a little of the difficulties that attend the work there — much the same as here. The dragon sometimes shows us his teeth, and is determined to let the remnant in Spain have a share of his persecution.
COLONIA ON THE LA PLATA
The other day we had a special meeting, when our hearts were cheered by hearing our convert from Catholicism say that since hearing and accepting the truth about six months ago, she has had a peace such as she never before experienced. She said she no longer feared death or man, although her persecution lately has been almost unbearable. We are glad to know that these helpless women are remembered before the throne of grace. W. ROBINSON.
Nova Scotia
By D. A. Corkham
SOUTH SCOTS BAY.—We have good news to report from this place. The Lord came graciously near during the week of prayer, and our company of Sabbath-keepers was much blessed.
The Lord has been working on hearts greatly. Two sisters, whose husbands were members of the Methodist Church, were made to rejoice in the Lord, their husbands taking their stand on the platform of Rev. 14:12. Others are in the valley of decision. To the Lord be all the praise! D. A. CORKHAM.
Mississippi
By W. H. Sebastian
YAZOO.—Sabbath, April 8, we had quarterly meeting. Sunday I visited a few families. One sister promised to keep the Sabbath, and will be ready for baptism on my return.
Wednesday, at school, Brother Lawrence spoke to his students on “Repentance and Baptism.” When I called at the school, he related to me the good news that four students desire baptism. I spoke to a company of forty-six students on the same subject. About sixteen of these are Sabbath-keepers; others are interested. Wednesday night Brother Lawrence and I visited a family composed of three persons. After a short salutation we begun our reading, at the end of which they promised to obey all God’s commandments.
Sabbath, the fifteenth, we had quarterly meeting at Jackson. At the close of our meeting, Elder Shaeffer, vice-president of the conference, walked in. All were glad to see him, and enjoyed his timely instruction. Sabbath, the twenty-second, we had our quarterly meeting at Vicksburg. Four were added to the church. Two had their names enrolled for baptism. Two others are now keeping the Sabbath, one of whom is paying tithe, but they have not attended our meetings yet. Pray for the work. W. H. SEBASTIAN.
