General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

Seventeenth Meeting

O. A. OLSEN

April 14, 10:30 A. M.

ELDER O. A. OLSEN in the chair. GCB April 15, 1901, page 231.20

Prayer by Elder M. G. Huffman. GCB April 15, 1901, page 231.21

The Chair: In the early morning meeting something of the present situation of the Conference was presented, and I think we all felt deeply over the situation. Especially is the Committee on Distribution of Labor burdened over their work. Here are all these urgent calls to be filled, and here are those present who to a large extent should be prepared to enter these places. It was requested that this matter be made a subject of earnest prayer and study by each individual. It is also necessary that we shall have as full an understanding as possible of the situation and the needs of these different fields, so that different individuals, as they are praying and considering this matter, may be led by the Spirit of the Lord in their own mind. As the Conference has but very little business prepared for this hour, it was thought that it might be well, if the Conference so decided, to take up the consideration of Africa, Elder Haskell leading out, and others making brief statements concerning this large and important field. GCB April 15, 1901, page 231.22

When we closed the Conference on Friday, we were considering the report from the Educational Committee. As this is unfinished business, it is the first to be disposed of. What is the pleasure of the Conference? GCB April 15, 1901, page 231.23

Wm. Covert: I move that we defer the discussion of the educational question until some future meeting. GCB April 15, 1901, page 231.24

W. C. White: I second this, with the understanding that it be the special order of business Wednesday morning. Some especially interested in this educational work can not be here to-morrow. GCB April 15, 1901, page 231.25

Carried. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.1

The Chair: I think the Committee on Organization would like to present a report, not for action, but that it may be before you for study and future action. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.2

W. C. White: Your Committee on Organization present a further report, recommending:— GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.3

“14. That the responsibility heretofore carried by the General Conference in appointing boards of management for the Southern Industrial School (Graysville, Tenn.), and the Oakwood Industrial School (Huntsville, Ala.), be transferred to the Southern Union Conference. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.4

“15. That the General Conference Executive Committee be authorized to make such transfers of the responsibility of appointing the boards of management of other educational institutions, and the transfers of titles of properties and obligations for debts, as the organization of the Union Conferences may indicate to be advisable.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.5

The Chair: This report will receive consideration at the next meeting. Brother Haskell will now lead out in the presentation of the needs of Africa. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.6

S. N. Haskell: God has some fields that are ripe for the truth sooner than others. It is like the harvest on a man’s farm—there are some fields which get ripe sooner than others. Finally all the fields become ripe ready for harvest. There are two ways in the Bible by which God especially reveals the condition of the fields. One is by the light of prophecy, and the other by indications of providence. The two will work together. I repeat, there are two ways in which God reveals that a field is ripe. One is by a direct testimony from heaven, and the other is by circumstances, which are God’s providences. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.7

Both ways are recognized in the Scriptures. When the Saviour was here, just before he ascended up on high at the close of the forty days, he told the disciples where to begin work. They were to extend their work from Jerusalem to Judea, thence to Samaria, going from there with the gospel to all parts of the world. That was a direct testimony from heaven as to where to labor. When the Saviour went through Samaria, he stopped at the well near the city of Sychar. The disciples went over to buy bread in the city. While they were gone, there came a woman to draw water from the well. She had a conversation with the Saviour, and as the result was converted, and hastened back into the city, and brought out a large multitude of people to hear the words of Christ. The Saviour said: “Say not ye. There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest behold. I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields: for they are white already to harvest.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.8

What local field was there represented before Christ?—The city of Sychar. The whole country of Samaria was not ready for the gospel, but the city of Sychar was: and it was in the providence of God that Christ met that woman, and was the means of her conversion, as this showed that field, the city of Sychar, to be ripe for work. I suppose it was four months before the time of natural harvest of the grain; but the Saviour directed the minds of his disciples to the providence of God as manifested in what had occurred; which showed that the field was “white already to harvest.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.9

These two ways of indicating the ripeness of fields for the harvest are taught all through the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. I think of scores of instances illustrating these. Now, judging from circumstances, a portion of Africa is ripe, ready for the harvest. There have been indications to show this. There are fields in America that are ripe, ready to be entered; there are cities around us that are ripe. New York City is ripe, ready for harvest; the Testimony which came here a few mornings ago shows this. Besides, the circumstances in New York City show this to be so. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.10

Africa, as you will notice, is surrounded. That is the way a wise general takes an army. He surrounds the enemy, and then takes them. The Lord has nearly surrounded Africa. There are believers scattered in different portions of Africa. In the southern portion is Cape Colony, where the truth has gone, and a beginning has been made, but this, as you can see by the map, is small. Near Cape Colony is Natal. North of this is the Orange Free State and also the Transvaal. Then north of this is our mission and Bechuanaland. That is about as far as we have done anything. This portion of Africa is that of which I will speak, because it is the only portion about which I know anything by experience. We spent about two years in that portion, and so know something about it from experience, and we think it is ripe for labor. Natal, especially, is ripe. There are tribes among the natives that are ripe for this. God’s providence has indicated that the work should be established among these natives. You may say, “How do you know?”—By the providence of God. I think it was in 1874 when Sister White, in the old meeting-house that stood on this spot, thought that the time had come for us to extend our operations to other nations. She said: “I saw nations that God was working with, and that there would be papers published in other countries of the world on present truth.” Publishing houses, etc., were to be established, and more than that, she said that we should fill the openings of the providence of God, and extend our work to other nations that were then calling for the truth. She had seen in those lands people who had gone away from their homes in retired places until paths had been made by their traveling to and fro to pray for light. Then she further said that she had seen these papers published, and the angle of God had made known to her the nations, and I never shall forget the time, because of the circumstances that were connected with it. Brother James White and myself were sitting right by the side of the rostrum, and it was a time when we had heard something about Sweden by Brother Parmalee down in Indiana. Sister White told what he had told me, and what I had told Brother White so clearly, that I said to him, “You have told Sister White what I told you.” And with that he stopped her right in her speaking. He asked her if she were telling what somebody had told her, or what she had seen. She said, “I am telling what I have seen, and I have seen that there are fields all ready for the truth that we have not entered, and that have not been thought of, and that there will be papers published in those fields. If we do not do our duty, God will raise up people to do the very thing that we ought to do. Again Brother White interrupted her. He said, “To what fields do you refer?” She said she could remember but one, that the angel had mentioned, which was Australia. We did not know anything about Australia, and I remember when we where talking of going there, the president of the Conference said to me, “Do you want to go down there and convert those kangaroos?” We did not think of the English cities there, with nearly a half million of English-speaking people in each. GCB April 15, 1901, page 232.11

So we talked about Australia; for you know in those days our missionary work was what we would almost call “booming” through the country, and we talked about it at church, and at about every meeting we began talking about Australia, for we thought that if Australia was mentioned by the Spirit of the Lord, there must be evidences that Australia was open, and our brethren began to send the Signs of the Times over to Australia. I do not know whether they sent any from Battle Creek or not; but they sent them from other parts of the country. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.1

At that time there was a man of immense wealth converted to the truth on the Coast of Africa through the influence of Sister Hannah Moore. This man told me that he went back to Australia because his missionary associates had excommunicated him, and that he was ready to lay down his fortune at the feet of Christ. If we had known enough then to go to Australia, we would have found that God had prepared the way for the truth. Finally I found him in San Francisco. We were talking about Australia in the San Francisco church, and I told the people about a man by the name of Dickinson who had embraced the Sabbath in Africa, and had written to this country to have some tracts published; but we did not know enough to publish them for him,—or we did not know enough to believe God and to publish these tracts,—and he went back to Australia. While I was telling this story to the San Francisco church, I saw a sister get up and talk to some brethren near by, and at the close of what I said, one of the brethren said, “I think we know that Dickinson; he is in San Francisco.” We finally found the man, after searching two days. Then he told us the story. He referred back to the very time when Sister White had given that Testimony and he said, “I had a fortune that I was ready to lay down at the feet of God.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.2

I mention this to illustrate the principle that when we do not see the providence of God in the field, but God speaks directly on the point, we should say that is the field. We did not go to Australia for more than ten years afterward. We were ten years behind, and in the long time intervening Satan had been rallying his forces so that we had a battle to fight that we would not have had to fight if we had entered the field at the time God said we should go. There would have been battles to fight, as far as that is concerned; but some of the battles we had to fight would not have been necessary if we had believed God. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.3

When I was in Africa about five years ago with Elder A. T. Robinson, we held meetings in Kimberley, where there was a Brother Moko. He was not a brother then, but he came where we were holding meetings one Saturday afternoon. He was a native teacher, understanding several languages. He came into our meeting, and strange as it may seem, he was converted right there at the first meeting. He was taken home to some of our brethren who could talk in the Dutch with him, and they had a prayer season with him. He came back later, and found the whole truth. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.4

Since that time the devil has done everything he could to drive him out of the truth, but he has clung to it. He has been offered large salaries if he would only connect with others and preach their doctrines, and give up the Sabbath, but he has stuck to the truth and passed through the bitterest kinds of persecution, always carrying a great burden to get among his own people. To me there is a great providence in this. What caused it to look like the providence of God was his immediate conversion, and then he was converted so strongly that the devil has not been able to get him out of the truth. His wife turned against him and every influence was brought to bear against him, until finally God gave him his wife, and she was converted. That is only one circumstance. To-day he is in the truth and is anxious to get among his own people and work with them. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.5

While we were in Africa we visited Basutoland. We went through the country, and were introduced to several men there by Brother Moko. But we found afterward that his man was not in good standing with the missionaries in Basutoland. They said that he had been disfellowshipped. So the introduction that I had was not very good for me. I was introduced to some of the chiefs, and to Brother Kalaka. Brother Kalaka was a man that had been educated by the first missionaries who went there, that he might assist in translating the Bible into the native language. But because I was not introduced to the missionaries in the regular way, they looked on me with great suspicion. Brother Kalaka, however, assisted me in getting through the country, and we were together several weeks. I was careful not to say the word “Sabbath” to him, and not to say anything to him to try to proselyte him over to our faith. But we read the Bible together every day; and as I selected some portions where the truth stood out prominently, I simply emphasized the words we read. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.6

For instance, we took the subject of baptism at one time, reading from that chapter in Acts about Phillip’s baptizing the eunuch. I wondered how he felt about it, but did not say a word to proselyte him. Finally we came to one mission; and as soon as we arrived, he introduced me as an Adventist. I did not know that he knew that I kept the Sabbath. The man who stood at the head of the mission, a Frenchman, said, “Oh, yes, I know all about your people. One of your papers was sent to me for some time. We are very much interested in your people and your work.” That is the first time that Kalaka knew I was a seventh-day man. We had a very interesting time there. He told me he had a theological class, and he said, “I wish you would stop, and teach them the book of Revelation. They are inquiring about this book, and I know your people make a great deal of the books of Daniel and Revelation. I do not know anything about them.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.7

I thought I could not stop very well then; but I could if I had half faith enough. I have regretted ever since that I did not stop, and teach them the book of Revelation. That is one little circumstance showing the providence of God. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.8

When we came back with Kalaka, we came to a little stream of water, and Brother Kalaka wanted to be baptized: but there was not water enough in the stream. We made arrangements for him to translate “Steps to Christ,” and to come over to Cape Colony to be with our brethren. He said he would come; but we were not there a great while. Brother Olsen was there afterward, when Kalaka came to an institute that they were holding, and baptized him. He is now with Brother Freeman, where they have started a mission in Basutoland. Do you think there is anything in the providence of God connected with those circumstances? I think there is. God had a hand in the whole thing, and he was calling us to go among the natives in South Africa. They now have a mission started, but it is not fully known by our people. GCB April 15, 1901, page 233.9

I will mention another little circumstance that will show how God’s providence was over this work. The laws of Basutoland are very peculiar. The English have a governor in these colonies, and they take out of the hands of the natives the right of criminal cases, deciding on cases where life is to be taken; and yet they give them perfect freedom to make laws according to their own customs, where life is not involved. They never sell any land, and no one can come upon the land until the paramount chief, with his council, decides he can come. If the chiefs decide that one can not come, the English help to keep him out. So if one comes, he must come on the conditions that the natives give them. I went up with this Brother Kalaka, and visited the paramount chief. He had a long story to tell of how his councilors did not agree with him, and how bad it was when they met together that they did not agree. He said he saw how the thing ought to go, “but my council do not agree with me.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.1

Brother Kalaka translated for me. I pointed the chief to a tree, and said, “Do you see that tree? There are no two limbs on that tree just alike. Then can you expect that men will be alike in their opinion?” Somehow it struck the man a little favorably, as being something new to him; and before we got away, he said to us, “I wish you could come here, and start a mission in our country.” The paramount chief, of course, was the one who invited us to come. Afterward, when Brother Freeman went over there to establish a mission, he went to this paramount chief; and his councilors, his under chiefs, in different parts of the country, heard that Brother Freeman had come to establish a mission. They had been influenced not to let him come in there at all; so when they came before this paramount chief, the council decided that he could not come into the country to establish a mission. But the paramount chief said, “When that missionary was over here, he told me we were like a tree, that no two limbs were alike.” It was in his power to reverse any decision that the councilors made, and so he decided that we could have the land. Thus the mission was opened. Brother Freeman is now there at work, entirely alone, living in a little room 13 by 14, and after moving out all the furniture, they can not seat the interested natives. GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.2

At Aliwal North there is a large educational mission. I went there, taking with me a letter of introduction to a native preacher and teacher. He spoke in Dutch, Kaffir, and Basuto. He had three services on Sunday in these three different tongues. He wanted me to speak to one of his congregations, and I did so. His people afterward were as friendly as could be; and when Brother J. C. Rogers was there afterward canvassing for the paper published in South Africa, they said to him, “Are you in harmony with that missionary who came down here and preached?” He said he was; and they told him that several of them were converted that night. More than that, I found that the minister with whom I stopped, had several tracts already translated into the Kaffir and Basuto tongues, and was waiting for the opportunity to print them. It seems to me that God has gone out before us, and prepared the way for hearts to receive the truth just as soon as we take our stand and go there to give them truth. The people are all ready for the truth. GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.3

We have reached a time when the very outward circumstances themselves indicate that something more should be done in Africa than we have done in the past. And when we labor for the people in that great country in God’s line, and in God’s opportune time, we shall see the prosperity of heaven attending our work. GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.4

O. A. Olsen: There is one incident in connection with this work among the natives that Brother Haskell has not brought out, that I think ought to be mentioned in this connection. He referred to an Institute that we had at Kimberley, where Brother Kalaka, with others, was present. At the close, that brother, with three other natives, were baptized, and it was one of the best baptisms I was ever connected with. At the close of this Institute, Brother Moko was looking around for another place to which he might move his family. While doing that, as he and Brother Kalaka were together, they came into a native house, and there he met a prominent chief from another part of the country. This man had a slight acquaintance with Brother Moko. The chief said, “What are you doing?” GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.5

“I am teaching the Bible, and scattering religious publications,” he replied. GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.6

“Yes, and what is this man doing?” pointing to Kalaka. GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.7

“O, he is from Basutoland, and he has come over here to be present in a Bible school.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.8

“What!” said the chief, “come all the way from Basutoland over here to be in a Bible school?” GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.9

“Yes.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.10

“Well,” said he, “what have you been studying in that Bible school?” Then they just commenced, and told him of the coming of the Lord, the prophecies, the Sabbath, and these other truths, and closed up with the ordinance of humiliation, for that was a new thing to them. The chief with the men who were with him, sat and listened with tears streaming down their faces. Said he, at the close. “What do you stay here for? I have never heard such things before, and none of my people know anything about it. I want you to come again to-morrow, and I want you to write out those scriptures that you have been quoting, and let me have them, so that I can study them. More than that, I want you at once to begin to make arrangements to go all through our country. In my district I have several churches, and I will open every one of them to you, and assure you of hundreds of hearers, for we are all anxious to hear just what you have been telling me today.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.11

I. J. Hankins: There is a feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction among the native people of South Africa. They have nothing upon which to rest their hope, and so seem to be holding out their hands for something they do not have. It is not difficult to convince them of the truths that we hold, but they are so bound up in their employment that it is difficult for them to come out and take a stand for the truth. But the seed has been sown among the intelligent Kaffirs, and different natives of South Africa have read our publications over and over, and have an intelligent knowledge of the truth. We hope that the time will come before very long, when their bands will be broken, and that some of these will become missionaries to their people. In the providence of God, there has been some literature provided in the Kaffir language, also in the Basuto. They have “Steps to Christ,” and a tract on the second coming of Christ, and some other smaller publications. These have been scattered to some extent among the native peoples in the Colony and in Natal. The result is that there is a decided interest among the native people. If some of these natives could be gathered in, properly educated, and enthused with the missionary spirit, they would accomplish more in one year as missionaries to their own people than we have yet accomplished in all our missionary work in Matabeleland and Basutoland. GCB April 15, 1901, page 234.12

There is probably no country that has been more prominently before the world during the past year and a half than South Africa. Not only has the war helped do this, but the pestilence which has swept over the country, and now the plague that is entering the city of Cape Town have added their quota to the cause. We have had our publications in circulation there for the past fourteen years, and perhaps more attention has been given to the distribution of our literature than any other one feature of our work. South Africa has proved a very successful field in which to sell our publications. The work of canvassing has been somewhat difficult, however, because of the sparsely settled condition of the country. Our population in South Africa is perhaps not more than about one million white people scattered through a large area, as you know, while the native population numbers about five millions. With a population of this size scattered through such a large territory, you can readily understand that it would be with some difficulty that the canvassing work could be carried forward. We can not support a very large number of canvassers in that field. Some of our leading books are translated into the Dutch language. These include “Bible Readings,” “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” “Steps to Christ.” “Christ Our Saviour,” and many smaller publications. All of these have been sold extensively to the Dutch-speaking people. We have not seen the results of this work that we have desired to see, and to some who have labored in that field, this has been somewhat discouraging: but we confidently believe the word of God, that in due time we shall reap. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.1

At first we had some difficulty in selling our publications. We were required to take out a license in every district that the canvasser entered. The Colony is divided up into districts, something as the several States here are divided up into counties; and every canvasser was required to take out a license, which cost him fifteen dollars, when he passed from one district into another. This made it very expensive, and took largely from the profits of the poor canvasser: but the Lord helped us overcome this difficulty. We presented the nature of our work before the authorities, and in due time we obtained exemption from this requirement, so that now we have liberty to sell our publications throughout South Africa, without this tax. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.2

The South African Sentinel has been published for the past six years in English and another edition has been published in the Dutch language. These papers have had a circulation of about twenty-five hundred every month. At the time the war broke out, we felt as if we ought to get out a special issue of our paper, presenting before the people our position with reference to the war. A paper was accordingly prepared, presenting the Bible principles with reference to this great question. We got out an issue of eight thousand copies. These were freely sold among all classes, in all parts of the country. They were circulated quite largely among soldiers. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.3

A gentleman in Uitenhage, in the southeast part of Cape Colony, received a copy of this paper. He was a refugee from Johannesburg. He had about made up his mind to join the army, and to go into the war. About that time a copy of the war issue of the Sentinel fell into his hands. He read it carefully, and it changed his mind completely. He did not go to the war, because he felt that it would not be right. The paper awakened an interest in him to know more of the truth, and he wrote a letter to me in Cape Town, asking me with reference to the Sabbath especially. He wanted to know whether the seventh day was really the Sabbath. I wrote him a letter, referring him to Brother Edmed, who was laboring in his vicinity, and at the same time wrote to Brother Edmed, calling his attention to this man. They met soon after this. Brother Edmed gave him a few readings, and he fully accepted the truth. So instead of going to war for his country, he began a warfare against sin and wickedness, and he has been a faithful, earnest man from that time. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.4

You have doubtless heard about the Benevolent Home in Kimberley. At the present time Brother Willson is connected with it. The Conference has purchased the Home since I left South Africa and it is devoted more especially to medical missionary work. Some of the better class of people in the town are coming to the Home and receiving treatment with great benefit. Brother and Sister Willson are very much encouraged with the outlook in Kimberley. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.5

During the past few months Brother Edmed and myself have conducted tent meetings in Uitenhage, and these have been, on the whole, quite successful. We felt for a time that we could not conduct meetings in the tent in South Africa, as it such a windy country and so dusty; but we ventured to try again and succeeded in holding quite a successful meeting during the winter season. As the result of this, there were about twenty who accepted the message. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.6

There is one incident that I might relate in connection with that meeting, that shows the effect of our scattering the publications. A young man came into the service, and listened very attentively. After the meeting I spoke to him, and learned that he was a missionary who had been working among the farming community, doing what he could to lead people to study the Bible and to a higher life in Christ. He had read “Bible Readings,” and became very much interested in the study of the Scriptures. He went to Port Elizabeth, to see if he could obtain some of our literature. He doubtless had seen it advertised in the book, and so went to the book-store in Port Elizabeth, and inquired if they had any of our publications, but could find nothing. He came up to Uitenhage, and the first thing he saw when he came into the town, was an advertisement of our meeting for that evening. He thought. “that sounds like subjects in the book that I have been studying.” We advertised to speak on the subject of the seven seals, and the seal of God. He came to the tent. The next Sabbath he attended our meeting, and the second Sabbath following he observed. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.7

We were having meetings only three times a week, and he thought he was not getting as much as he ought. He asked us if we could give him Bible studies other days when we had no meetings, and so we arranged for a Bible study every day. We were astonished at the knowledge that this young man had of present truth which, he had gotten by his study of “Bible Readings.” And though he was not able to put things together, and get a systematic theory of the truth, he had a general knowledge of the message, and when he came to hear these things, and have them put together, he rejoiced in the knowledge of that which he could carry among the farmers as a definite message of truth. As he started out, he said, “I am sure that there is a family fifty miles away that are just ready to accept the Sabbath message, and I want to go up and visit that family.” We encouraged him, although we were a little amused at his credulity. But he went, and in a few days he came back and reported his success. Sure enough, the family had accepted the truth, and had kept the Sabbath with him. GCB April 15, 1901, page 235.8

This was the result of placing “Bible Readings” in the hands of this young man. There are different families who stand int he same position, and he is only waiting to visit different places throughout the country to carry to them the knowledge of the truth. How best to reach the country districts has been a perplexing question in South Africa. I pray that the Lord will lay the burden upon some here to go to Africa, and learn some of the native languages, and carry the truth to those who are still without the light of the message. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.1

J. L. Shaw: Elder Champness was saying yesterday that he wished he might take all the people here for a short time to visit London. I wish he might. I believe that is a very needy place. All England is calling after people to come and present to them the truth. But I wish after they made a visit to London, I could take them a little farther,—to Africa, that vast country with two hundred millions of people who know not the truth. This large number of people must have the gospel carried to them, and some must be willing to dedicate their lives for this very purpose. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.2

The work with which I have been connected in South Africa is at Cape Town. We get some very erroneous ideas about different countries, in one way and another. Cape Town is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, I presume, of its size and population. Every class of people are there,—Dutch, English, French, German, Indians, Malays, and various other nationalities. You would be surprised to find the many different classes of people in that city. They all must have the truth and the light. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.3

As you perhaps know, we have a school established near Cape Town, about seven or eight miles from the city. When we went to Africa, we found that the people were much different from what they are in America, and their ideas of education were somewhat different. But we have endeavored to follow the Lord’s plan of education as far as possible, and the Lord has blessed us in the effort. Manual training has been introduced, and several industries have been established in connection with the school work, among which are the carpenter shop and the printing department. We have an excellent carpenter shop. I do not believe you would find so good a shop in any of our schools in America. I was very much pleased, after coming here, to receive a letter from a young man who had gone to Australia to attend the school at Avondale. He had gone as far in our school as he could. While there, he had been working in the carpenter shop, and become quite proficient. He told me in his letter that when he had arrived in Australia, they asked him to take charge of the carpentry work in Avondale. Our students have taken a great deal of interest in the printing department. Our South African paper was about to go down; for it was not receiving sufficient support; but the school took hold of it, and by connecting it with the school we were able to carry it on, and it is doing a good work at the present time. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.4

Our educational work thus far has largely been carried on among the white, or European people. The work that lies before us now is to carry on the educational work among the colored people of South Africa. There is a great work to be done in this line. The number of Europeans in Africa is very few, and the numbers—millions and millions—of colored people are astonishing. Something must be done to teach them the principles of education. It is very difficult to carry on education in Cape Town, and accommodate those who are colored, because of the great amount of prejudice that exists there. We have had some precious experiences in connection with this question, however, which go to prove that our brethren in South Africa recognize the principle that God hath made of one blood all nations. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.5

In Natal there is a needy field. Recently when Elder Hyatt was there, one of the missionaries who is occupying a school, and who had so many students that he did not know what to do, said “Have you not a missionary of your denominations a school-teacher, who will come and teach in our school?” Elder Hyatt answered, “Perhaps he will teach some of our principles.” “That does not make any difference: if we only had some one to teach the gospel to these people, and who was willing to yoke right up with us, and go forward in the work, we should be so thankful.” GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.6

Other denominations are getting ahead of us in Natal. For the last sixty years the missionaries have been working there. If the truth could only be taken to these people, what an instrument they would be in the hands of God to go through all Africa and carry the truth! We have overlooked this matter. We have been working quite largely with a class in Africa whose minds are not so highly developed as are those of some other classes of Kaffirs in that country. I believe that in carrying the work to the Kaffirs, we must start with those who are the most influential first: and then when they get an education in our principles, they will be the very best agents to go all through the country to convert their own people to the knowledge of the truth. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.7

I believe God is calling for means and talent for work in Africa. May God place the conviction of heart upon some one here to take up the interests of that work. If ever we needed a general for any place in our work, it is in Africa. Those who have been there, and worked in that field, know it. There is no place that the work needs greater generalship than in Africa; and if you have one man who is better than any other, send him to Africa, and may your prayers and God’s blessing go with him. [Voices: Amen!] GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.8

H. M. J. Richards: Is there anything in South Africa corresponding to what we call the “color line” in the United States? GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.9

J. L. Shaw: Yes, sir; decidedly. In the Transvaal at the present time a Kaffir can not walk on the sidewalk, but has to take the street. The English have a more friendly feeling toward these Kaffirs than some other nationalities have. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.10

The Chair: There are several who desire very much to hear from Sister Druillard, who spent some time in Africa. We must soon close, but we want to hear a few words from Sister Druillard. GCB April 15, 1901, page 236.11

Mrs. N. H. Druillard: You have heard our brethren tell you of what the Lord has done in opening the work in Africa, and of how it has been carried on there. Now I know what you are thinking about. I can see it in your faces. You say, “If the Lord has done all this, and you have had such openings, why have you not more to show for it?” I know you are thinking of that. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.1

But we have been sowing the seed in Africa. While it has been a hard field in many respects, we have diligently sowed the seed; and to us many and many a time has the same thing come, until it almost discouraged us; but when we would remember that our labor of love was not to be in vain, we took heart, and kept on with the work. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.2

I think you have seen that the time has come when God is having the seed that has been sown, begin to bear fruit. We must put it off no longer. If there is one field in the world that calls to our people to-day, it is Africa. While I have been away from there for four years, I have tried to keep in touch with that field, and I am sure that in studying the world, I can see no field where God is calling for his people to arise and work as never before, as the field of Africa. If we will enter into these doors that are now standing open, we shall see much fruit from the seed that has been planted. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.3

If we stop to think that as soon as the war closes, many nationalities will rush to that field, it would be seen that it is now time to enter and begin to work. I do hope that God will put into the hearts of those whom he wants to go to that field to go, and that workers be sent. They should be sent there now. There should be no delay, because if there is a delay now, the work that we could do if we entered immediately, will be twice as hard to do six months from now. I am able to tell you of only a very small part of the work that has been done: and from what you have read and studied for yourselves, you must see that the time has come for us to arise and work in that field. We must send the very best workers we have to that field: and when they go, let the body of Seventh-day Adventists in this country follow them with their prayers, that God will work through them. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.4

The Chair: I know that you all have been very deeply interested in the presentation of these subjects. May the Lord stir up every soul to sense the situation, and may there be such a consecration as we have never experienced before, that we may be fitted to come forth and answer these earnest calls for help. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.5

F. I. Richardson: There is one thought that has not been broached. For many years the surplus of Europe’s millions has been coming to America. America is quite well filled. Many, too, have been going to Australia. Now the attention of these millions is turned to Africa. As soon as the war is over, they will doubtless turn their attention to Africa by the hundreds and thousands. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.6

It was moved and seconded that an adjournment be had till 3 P.M. Carried unanimously. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.7

S. H. Lane pronounced the benediction. GCB April 15, 1901, page 237.8

O. A. OLSEN, Chairman.
L. A. HOOPES, Secretary.