When Jesus was upon the earth, his great heart of love was moved with compassion because the multitude “fainted [“were tired and lay down,” margin], and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”
GROUP OF ABORIGINAL INDIANS AND THEIR CHURCH
Long years before the Saviour uttered these words, the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel had brought the complaint of neglect against his people as recorded in Ezekiel 34. This entire chapter furnishes food for thought for God’s people to-day. The Lord’s flock is not confined to those whose names are on the church book, nor to those in civilized lands. “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”
Dwelling in the vast South American forest, there are thousands of the aborigines of the Western hemisphere, whose condition is exactly described in the preceding quotations. A quiet and inoffensive people, they have been passed by on the other side, and wander neglected in their forest homes, surrounded by nature in her grandest forms, yet a “prey to every wild beast of the field.” Satan through the peramun, or witch doctor, holds many of them in the bonds of the most abject superstition.
Yet some of them have heard the voice of the third angel’s message, and their hearts are glad. At the session of the East Caribbean Conference, held in Georgetown, Demerara, some representatives of these forest children were present. Two of them, members of the Tapacrooma Indian church, stood before our conference, and over and over again pleaded, “Send us a teacher.” They told what the message had done for them. Especially did the Sabbath truth seem precious to their souls. Children of nature, the running stream, hill and vale, the growing tree, the singing bird, all speak to them of the great Giver of all good in a language they understand. They have not yet been educated away from nature, so the Sabbath appeals powerfully to them, being the sign of him who made all things, and who still upholds all things by the word of his power, filling heaven and earth.
The brethren who have already accepted the message are certain that present truth alone will touch the hearts of the Indians. The Christianity with which they have come in contact has lacked the power, and many who once were under Christian influences are drifting away. Yet they sit in their loneliness, longing for that which the third angel’s message alone can give; and shall they wait in vain?
Our work in the Guianas began among them about nine years ago. A colored brother, who had been a schoolmaster, visited one of their settlements, and two or three gladly accepted the Sabbath truth. Elder W. G. Kneeland, while struggling against so severe an attack of Demerara malaria that he was soon compelled to leave for the States, spent a few weeks with them on the eve of his departure, and performed the first baptism among them.
They were then left alone for a long time. Smallpox entered their settlement, and many died. They moved their camp farther interior, but they still remained faithful to the precious truths which they had heard. Rarely did our ministers visit them, but Elder D. C. Babcock, while suffering from an attack of malaria which almost compelled him to leave the field, took refuge at their forest home on the sand hills, and gave them further instruction. The work has so far developed that at Tapacrooma Creek, up the Essequibo River, there is at present a church with twenty-one members. Another company up the Demerara River, at Bootooba, has been broken up by removals, and needs gathering together again.
In May, 1905, Elder W. G. Kneeland and the writer visited the Tapacrooma village, and held services in the little church built by themselves of native material in the depths of the forest. As I faced these first-fruits of the forest children, and realized that little if anything was being done by us for them, my heart was stirred. They hold their regular services and Sabbath-school, subscribe for the REVIEW AND HERALD, take the Caribbean Watchman, and pay tithes and offerings. Their hearts rejoice when they enter in their church records the addition of others of their forest families to the ranks of those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
ABORIGINAL INDIAN HOMES
There is something thrilling in the onward march of the great threefold message. It is binding together in a common cause the hearts of men and women of different races and customs. The same truth that has become so precious to those who have had the benefit of modern civilization is manna to the souls of those who have always dwelt in the midst of the simplicity of nature. The Western Washington Conference has set apart one of its laborers, Brother O. E. Davis, for this work, and has13generously pledged his support. Money is now needed to pay his traveling expenses. Who will be touched by this Macedonian call, and send to the treasury of the General Conference funds to supply this need?
To those who are at the front, facing the world’s need, the Lord’s promise in Eze. 34:11-16 is precious. He has promised to search for his sheep, and seek them and gather them from the countries where they are scattered.
Who this day will lay all on the altar of sacrifice, and consecrate themselves, and their little ones, and all their substance to this blessed work?
Bridgetown, Barbados.
Morocco
By C. E. Rentfro
C. E. RENTFRO
THE following interesting items were given me by an English gentleman, who spent many years in Morocco, part of the time as consul for England. Mr. Grace has collected manuscript for a book, some of which he loaned me, that I might arrange something for our people.
Morocco is a country yet to be entered by the third angel’s message; in fact, only the Scotch Church has opened work there. It lies between Algiers and the ocean, and just across the strait and sea from Spain and Portugal. It is probably six hundred miles in length, and nearly four hundred in width, and is crossed from northeast to southwest by the Atlas Mountains, on the highest peaks of which is found snow the year round.
The capital is a city of the same name, where resides the sultan. The inhabitants are called Moors, who are descendants of those who flourished in Spain and Portugal some years ago. The country is divided into provinces, over which presides a sheik, or governor. There are no broad highways, only paths for one animal to pass at a time. The transportation is by means of camels, mules, and donkeys.
From the history of one city may be gathered a general idea of the whole. The town of Mazagan on the northwest coast of Morocco was built by the Portuguese, and from their history of this settlement we learn that the site was discovered by them in the year 1502.
They began to build forts and walls in 1509, by order of Don Manuel, then king of Portugal. They constructed four towers, and also a fortress. These structures still exist, being of a hard stone resembling granite, with battlements of solid masonry, presenting a formidable appearance. The foundation is rock. Engineers of the present day wonder by what means the enormous blocks of stone were raised to so great a height in those days. The walls, varying from eight to nine feet in thickness, are of solid masonry, and still in a fair state of preservation.
From the sea, on the northwest side of the wall, the Portuguese made a moat across the land to the southeast reef, thereby surrounding the town with water.
The width of the moat was about twenty-five feet, with a depth of about fourteen, admitting small vessels for trading purposes, at high tide.
A large reservoir was constructed inside the town, for storing rain-water, capable of holding four thousand tons of water. The roof is supported by seventy-five arches of most excellent and artistic design, with a fortification built over it. When we (Mr. Grace and others) were exploring this tank in 1857, it contained ten or twelve feet of water and mud. Since that time it has not been much thought of, and was used by the neighboring residents for sewage.
The building of the town and fortress was completed in 1541, by an architect sent from Lisbon, and was garrisoned under command of Luiz de Azambuja, with two hundred infantry and thirty-one cavalrymen. They constructed three subterranean passages, founded a hospital, built four churches, and a monastery, or place of inquisition. The latter was still existing in 1897, in the occupation of the Moors, revealing many traces of horrible deeds of violence of past ages. The town contained twenty-eight streets and fourteen lanes or alleys, also spacious stores for grain, ammunition, stabling, etc.
The history states that in 1573, by order of King Don John III, a new tower was built, under the direction and governorship of one Luis de Loureiro, who rejoiced in the title of Captain Major. He occupied this post for seven years, during which time he besieged and took possession of the town of Azamoon, which lies about twelve miles northeast of Mazagan, with a force of one hundred and twenty foot and twenty-five cavalry.
In 1542 this town of Azamoon was surrounded and retaken by the sultan’s army, and garrisoned by his troops. Minor warfare continued between the Moors of this city, assisted by the neighboring tribes, and the Portuguese, until 1546, when the sultan of Morocco sent a force of four thousand men, infantry, cavalry, and camels, to combine with the people and garrison of Azamoon, to besiege and capture the town and fortification of Mazagan. The brave Loureiro proved to be a match for them, with only one hundred and eighty men, and his cavalry defeated and pursued the army for some distance into the interior.
A treaty of peace was made for three years, signed by the sultan’s vizier and the Portuguese governor. But the Moors declared it nullified the following day, March 5, 1546. Notwithstanding protracted raids, and skirmishes, between the natives and the Portuguese, the latter held their own for two hundred and twenty-eight years, with a boundary of about two miles of land from the town walls. The ancient land-marks of stone still indicate an irregular line of border.
The population increased to four thousand souls, including the garrison, who had by that time mounted one hundred guns on the batteries. Their possessions and trade would have increased, and proved worthy of their colonizing efforts, had not a royal decree been issued by Philip, king of Portugal, in 1769, ordering the surrender of the town and fortress to Mulai Mohamed ben Abdallah, the sultan of Morocco.
This unexpected enactment becoming known in Portugal, a revolution appeared inevitable in that country, the people having looked upon the Mazagan colony as a possession in the empire of Morocco, and of vital importance to their national interests. But this was avoided by promises made by the king that he would find them possessions of equal value in South America.
The port of Mazagan was closed for many years, but eventually opened to foreign trade, becoming a town of some importance, both for imports and for exports, it being nearer to the city of Morocco than other cities on the coast, and the roads being more easy for traffic. The adjacent provinces are very fertile, favored with fine climate and rich soil, yielding large crops of maize, beans, chickpeas, cummin seed, and other grains. In other parts are found great almond forests, as well as the English walnut, and olives are plentiful, from which the olive-oil is produced.
Fruit growing attracts but little attention, owing to neglect and laziness on the part of the natives, who seldom prune the trees or fertilize the land. Figs, pomegranates, dates, grapes, and oranges are abundant, while pears, apples, plums, apricots, and other fruits are very inferior in quality.
The tribes inhabiting the interior of this district are still of a fanatical and discontented disposition, seldom missing opportunities to purloin property, steal cattle, and interrupt trade of the merchants and traders. Disturbances especially take place after the death of a sultan, or through a local governor’s exacting new taxes too heavy for them to bear.
A large encampment of many hundreds of huts is permitted outside the walls of Mazagan. These are made of the branches of trees, corded together, then thatched with wheat straw, or leaves of the stunted palm. They are inhabited by Moors of the lower classes, beggars, and Gipsies of the interior, or Ishmaelites. The lanes between these habitations are left in a most unsanitary condition. Dead animals are thrown about, to be eaten by dogs, or to decay and be dried up by the heat of the sun. No government overseer is appointed to look after or prevent such outrage by the residents. It appears marvelous how these people escape epidemics of the worst type.
The people have many superstitious ideas in cases of sickness, death, and burial, as well as in the birth of a child. Leprosy seems to be common in some parts. For intoxicating drinks they have makhia and hashish. The first is distilled from the water in which honeycomb has been boiled, before the bees’ wax is pressed out of it. It is flavored with annis, cummin, or herbs. The second is made from the stem and seed of a nauseous plant, powdered and mixed14with opium or tobacco. This is taken greedily by many of the Moors, causing sleep and stupidity, which often lasts for several days.
About the only way missionaries can work is to enter the country as physicians; for regular missionaries are hated by the people, who are mostly Mohammedans. It is to be hoped that an open door may be found for the entrance of the closing message to this people in the last generation of the world’s history. Who as a doctor is ready to enter the country of the Moors? Who as a worker for souls is ready to give his life for this people?
Lisbon, Portugal.
Traversing the Alps to School
By CHAS. T. EVERSON
CHAS. T. EVERSON
A SHORT time after I came to Italy, I made a visit to the Waldensian valleys, and met with our church at Torre Pellice. While there, I became acquainted with a young man who was an officer in the Salvation Army. We had a long study on the Sabbath question, and on some other points of our truth. He had also read some of our literature, and had studied with our young worker who was stationed at that place.
Shortly after my return to Rome, I received a letter from him in which he told me that he had continued to meditate upon the things that we had studied together, and he was satisfied that this is the truth, and he expressed his intention of going to Milan, and there resign from the Salvation Army, that he might obey the truth. But he was not yet well enough grounded to meet the argument and pressure that was brought to bear upon him by the higher officers of the Army, and therefore he consented to remain with them. When we consider that he was quite young, and had not been long out of the Catholic Church, it is not so much to be marveled at that he should find it difficult to cope with the obstacles that they put before him. Besides, he had been converted from Catholicism by the Army. One night while still a fervent Catholic he happened to pass their hall where they were having a service in which they showed stereopticon views. Not knowing that there was any religion connected with the exhibition, he entered, and there his heart was touched by the Holy Spirit, and he gave himself to God. From that time forth he began to frequent the services regularly, and therefore naturally became much attached to the Army. His family, strongly aided by the parish priest, made a strenuous effort to regain him for the Catholic Church. They offered him exceptional opportunities of study or occupation, but it was all in vain, for he remained firm to his convictions.
Therefore being converted under the Salvation Army, and at the same time being young, it was more easy to discourage him concerning our truth. And in order to get him away from our influence as far as possible, they sent him to Livorno. But it happened that I had occasion to pass near that city on my way to committee meetings, and therefore I stopped off and went to see him. After two visits of this nature he became strong enough to go to Milan, and really give in his resignation to the Army. He made application later to go to our school, but while we were waiting for the time to arrive to consider the question, an opportunity came to him of attending an undenominational school at Florence. And as he was in the necessity of deciding quickly, he accepted that offer. While there, he studied more carefully the truth, and as he was hindered from putting into practise all that he believed, he became troubled, and therefore made up his mind that he would leave the school and try to find a place where he could serve the Lord in the whole truth.
Once out of the school, he found himself without money, and no position open before him. He was desirous of going to our school, but there was no way apparently to get there, as he had no money, and the Alps lay between him and the school. Finally, like the prodigal of old, he made up his mind that he would go on foot, and make a personal application for admittance to the doors of our institution at Gland, Switzerland. He therefore crossed the Alps, traversing the famous St. Bernard Pass, which has been rendered so prominent by the passage of Napoléon and his army over its bleak summit. On his arrival at the shores of the beautiful Lake Geneva, where is situated our sanitarium, his toils were rewarded by being received into the nurses’ training class. Just recently he wrote: “It is really a miracle that I find myself here. The Lord has led me, and I can not say how contented I am to have been admitted into the nurses’ training course. Pray for me that God may sustain me, and help me to render a good testimony of a true son of God.”
And thus it is that after almost two years of struggle, study, and wavering, this young man has finally made a gigantic effort and come out clear and strong for the truth. The souls that are converted to the truth in these Catholic countries are won by long, patient, and persistent effort. And often we must encourage ourselves with the promise, “Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” We have found it verified in our experience.
Rome, Italy.
CHINA'S Three Voices by Which She Is Calling Us To-day:—
1. The voice of splendid opportunity. China is at last awaking. “Never before were men crowding to hear the gospel as to-day.”
2. The voice of urgent need is calling, “Come over and help us.” We think there are so many missionaries in China; do we realize that no less than one thousand counties in that great empire are without a single mission station?
3. The voice of glorious possibilities. There are great spiritual resources in China, lying undeveloped, which might enrich the crown of Jesus Christ. Few are more earnest in witnessing to their faith, few more easily led and taught, few more stedfast in times of persecution.—Baptist Missionary Magazine.
Mission Notes
IT IS STATED that forty million, or one sixth of the population of India, live upon insufficient food.
THE expense to China annually for opium is one hundred million dollars. Its victims number between twenty million and forty million.
A HINDU paper published in Calcutta gives some idea of the extent of child marriage in India. The facts, according to this authority, as reprinted in the Missionary Review of the World, are as follows: There are in the one province of Bengal alone no less than 433 infant “widows” under the age of one year; 576 widows between the ages of one and two; 651 between two and three; 1,756 between three and four; 3,861 between four and five; 34,705 between five and ten; 75,590 between ten and fifteen; and 142,871 between fifteen and twenty.
“THAT image that you have in your temple was carved by some man out of a stone, before it was placed there,” said a Church of England zenana missionary to her class of Indian children, who were sitting round, having their Bible lesson. There was a pause. The children looked shocked. Then one little girl said: ‘O teacher! don’t say so. It is the god who came down from heaven, and took the form of a stone, who is there in the temple, and whom we worship.’ Many men and women in India believe as these little children did, that the images worshiped are only the outer coverings of the gods who dwell within.”
A REALLY lovable old Mohammedan of Delhi, India, is in a pitiable state. He is worrying all the time about the danger, at his age, of sudden death. He tells the Rev. C. F. Andrews that he longs for just a few years more in which to work off by prayer and fasting the bad deeds of his early life. His religion tells him to wash hands, feet, arms, and head five times a day, so as to be pure when praying to God. He washes seven times, and doubles the legal number of repetitions of his prayer; he wears out his feeble body by fastings that are not on the books; he multiplies his almsgiving, but all in vain. He has been taught to consider God not as a loving Father, but as an inexorable taskmaster, who demands the full tale of bricks. He dares not, at his age, listen to the good news of a Saviour in Jesus Christ. O, the pity of it!
British Guiana
By W. G. Kneeland
POMEROON RIVER.—About fourteen years ago one man living in this district was brought to a knowledge of the truth through reading The Signs of the Times. Four years ago one of our canvassers entered this field, and was successful in selling our literature, and also in impressing some with the importance of obedience to the truths contained in the books. Last month these believers had their first opportunity of hearing a Seventh-day Adventist minister, and of becoming connected with the general organization.
After careful examination respecting their knowledge of the principles of our faith, nine adults were accepted for baptism, making a company of eleven baptized believers. As many more presented their names for the same ordinance, but owing to their lack of experience they were advised to wait until my next visit.
Land was donated for a church building, and twenty-one dollars was raised for this purpose, besides some pledges of money and labor.
We believe that if careful work is done, a good company can be raised up in this district. Other calls from unentered parts of our colony emphasize the fact that the “harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.”
W. G. KNEELAND.
Jamaica
By Hubert Fletcher
“The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.” Isa. 41:5, 6.
Since our last conference quite an impetus has been given to the work throughout the island. The brethren and sisters are awakened to their responsibilities. This is demonstrated by the sailing of Brother P. Porter on the third of March for the Turk Islands as a missionary canvasser; and in the near future Elder S. M. Jones is to go to one of the Southern States.
We are also praying and planning for the establishment of an industrial training-school for the West Indies, that we may gather out our reserves for the crisis in this closing conflict. If every one will do his duty, victory will be ours. We realize that the appeals from the regions beyond, from our fatherland, Africa, are for us as much as for our brethren in America. While they may be better able to supply the means, we can better supply the men to stand the trying climate of the west coast. Jamaica is determined to do her part by the grace of God. We have men who have consecrated all to God’s service, to go wherever he wants them to go.
On Sunday, March 18, it was my privilege to bury three souls with their Lord in baptism. At Bird’s Hill we have a good interest. An ex-schoolmaster and catechist, with his family, has begun to keep the Sabbath. This has enraged the enemy to persecute, but it tends to strengthen them. There are several awaiting baptism, which will be administered at an early date. From all along the line reports of progress are coming. We are of good courage, and our confidence in the spirit of prophecy is unshaken.
HUBERT FLETCHER.
May Pen.
Lake Union Conference Items
By J. B. Blosser
THE present year bids fair to be one of the most encouraging for the canvassing work that this field has experienced for many years. Our force during January and February was double the usual number, and many of those who worked had better success than they had before the holidays. Thus far the attendance at institutes has doubled previous years; East Michigan led out with eight, Indiana about the same. In Ohio the interest from last year has spread, and about forty attended their institute. Wisconsin has bestirred itself as never before, and held a six weeks’ canvassers’ school with an attendance of over twenty, and an institute of two weeks with some additional ones, besides several Scandinavians who have been in training by Elder Christian at Milwaukee. I have just closed a very profitable institute in the North Michigan Conference, where twelve promising young people were prepared to engage in the work. I am now on my way to West Michigan, where we expect to hold an institute in connection with Cedar Lake Academy, and I am informed that a number will enter the work.
A plan has been arranged by which young people can readily earn a year’s scholarship in Emmanuel Missionary College by selling one hundred and fifty dollars’ worth of subscription books, turning the whole amount into the tract society, which will arrange with the college for the scholarship. All the conferences in the Emmanuel Missionary College district have adopted this plan, with the possible exception of Indiana; also some of the academies have similar arrangements. This plan has met a hearty response, and I hear of a goodly number who are entering into it heartily. We feel sure that this will give these young people an experience that will be a blessing to them, and will bring into our schools a spirit that will inspire others to enter this work.
It is a noticeable fact that this work will always revive and succeed in any field where it is taken hold of by faith and conducted according to methods that have proved a success elsewhere.
It has been arranged by the union conference to hold a bookmen’s convention just prior to the union conference meeting in May. We expect that all our conference presidents, missionary secretaries, field secretaries, and others will be in attendance, and contribute to make the meeting a help in establishing and maintaining right methods in this work. This union should be a great recruiting ground for all parts of the world, and it will be if the work is taken hold of as it should be. The material is here; it only needs development.
J. B. BLOSSER.
Honolulu
By C. D. M. Williams
WE are glad to get the dear old REVIEW every week, and to read of the progress of the message in every land; surely the Lord is in the work, and now it looks as if Rom. 9:28 might soon be fulfilled. We are praising the Lord for the good work that he is doing here. Souls are being brought to the Lord, and the church is being strengthened spiritually. Two were baptized some time ago, and last Sunday we went down to the beach and buried three more dear souls in baptism.
When we first came here, the members seemed discouraged, and thought that nothing could be done; and it really seemed almost impossible to make a start, but by surrendering ourselves to the Lord the spell has been broken, and we are now rejoicing that the Lord is not only working to save others, but a renewed consecration is coming into our own hearts, and in laboring for others we ourselves are being saved.
At first it seemed almost impossible to get readers, but now we have so many that we can take no more unless it be in the forenoon.
We are hoping that some help will be furnished us soon; but when we see the appeals coming from other fields, we almost hesitate to ask for help here, lest we might shut out some more needy field. Surely the fields are white already, and we need continually to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send more laborers into the field. We have a class16of six Chinese young men, and about the same number of girls, who are very much interested. One of the boys was baptized last Sunday, and is proving himself to be a worker in the cause of his Master. C. D. M. WILLIAMS.
River Plate Conference
By J. W. Westphal
THE work in the River Plate Conference is onward. During the month of January forty persons were baptized. Fifteen of these were at Concordia, where a little more than a year ago there was not one Sabbath-keeper. Five were at Urdinarrain, where the church has more than doubled its membership since it was organized two years ago. Four were at Rosario Tola, where we had our conference in October last, and where, at that time, we had no brethren. Several others are keeping the Sabbath. In other places some have begun to keep the Sabbath, and are awaiting baptism. At Mansilla a family has lately begun to keep the Sabbath, and others are interested.
Since our conference Brother Arthur Fulton has been laboring at Rosario, the second largest city in the republic of Argentina. One sister has accepted the truth, and others are on the deciding point, and still others are becoming interested. At our coming South American Union Conference, we expect to begin a special effort for Parana, the capital of the Entre Rios Province. Through the periodical work of three of our sisters in the city of Buenos Ayres several have become interested, with whom Sister Town is now holding Bible readings. Others are becoming interested in the same city through the labors of Brother and Sister Oppegard, and several have lately begun to keep the Sabbath.
J. W. WESTPHAL.
Pua, Chile.
A Letter to the General Conference From a Chinese Christian
By Leung Kin Cho
Your servant, since hearing Mr. Anderson and Mr. Wilbur explain the Sabbath truth, saw more fully God’s inexhaustible word as though it were not by man’s power or by man’s mouth that I was taught. I truly thank the Saviour for his great mercy.
It is a sad fact that my humble country has a large surface, and the people are many—about four hundred million souls of the yellow race, plunged in sin. But our church, counting the work in other provinces, has only entered three or four places. This is like attempting to quench with a cup of water a load of wood afire. How can it be sufficient? This makes my heart burn and break within me. Then, too, we are separated from you, so that we do not have a chance to meet and consult together about the Lord’s work, that you might teach us. But ah! I remember, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8: 28.
I beg your venerable General Conference and ministers assembled to soon send to China many more good shepherds (see John 10:11), to save your neighboring country. This is most important. It would be observing the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, because China is your neighboring country. I hope your honorable conference will pray about this matter. Amen.
Greetings to all the ministers and teachers of the great Seventh-day Adventist General Conference.
Your humble servant,
DR. LEUNG KIN CHO.
Progress in Egypt
By W. H. Wakeham
At my recent visit to Alexandria, I was much encouraged by the evidences of an onward movement in the second city of Egypt.
The little company of Sabbath-keepers there are growing in grace, and in unity of purpose, and others are becoming interested in the truth. Several besides the actual members attend the Sabbath services quite regularly. Some of these are already keeping the Sabbath, and are being instructed on other points of the message. Still others are apparently on the point of deciding for the truth.
Several Jews are interested attendants at our Sabbath services. One of these has recently had a remarkable conversion. Born a Jew, he had lost faith in the religion, was a hard drinker, and an inveterate smoker, besides having many other bad habits. But when the truths of the third angel's message reached his heart, he found a power never before experienced by him. He has fully accepted Christ and all for which he stands in this last message of mercy, and I recently had the pleasure of baptizing him. He is rejoicing in the truth, and is zealously teaching it to his Jewish friends.
His wife, though not yet converted, has become very friendly toward our people, because, she says, we have saved her husband. She thinks, and rightly too, that a faith that can work such a revolution in a man's character is worth looking into. This young man, whose name is Moses, reads and speaks Spanish, Turkish, and French, and also reads Hebrew. We hope he may become a real missionary among his people.
The interest among the Jews here reminds me of the words of Sister White at the last General Conference, that a great work would yet be done among the Jews.
THE SABBATH-SCHOOL AT ALEXANDRIA
While at Alexandria, I met a converted Jew who has been working for the Jews in Smyrna under the auspices of the English Church Missionary Society. I asked him what he found to be the greatest obstacles to the Jews becoming Christians. He replied, without a moment's hesitation, “The Sabbath, eating pork, and circumcision.” Of course I was glad to explain to him that the first two of these difficulties were not encountered by our missionaries, and that the grand truth of “justification by faith” easily swept away the third.
The work in this city has a more encouraging outlook than at any previous time since I came to Egypt. The accompanying picture shows the members of the Sabbath-school, and was taken by the superintendent of the school, Brother Mandalian, who sits at the left of the picture. On the right may be seen, in part, the very serviceable little organ donated to the Egyptian Mission by the Sabbath-school at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. For the present it is being used here, and adds much to the interest of the meetings. We ask all to remember the work in the “land of Ham.”
