Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 188, 1900

Haskell, Brother and Sister [S. N.]

“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

June 20, 1900

Previously unpublished.

Dear Brother and Sister Haskell:

Half past two o’clock a.m. I arise and prepare for writing a few lines to you. Yesterday morning I was up at two o’clock and wrote twelve pages to Elder Daniells in Africa before changing my position, then one page and a half more to Elder Daniells, and one letter of four pages to Brother Ellet. It was important that these letters for Africa go Tuesday morning, and this was about four o’clock. I was too weary to write, but I knew some things must go to Africa. I was too weary to write anything yesterday, except a few lines to J. E. White. I feel a continual burden which has a very depressing influence upon me. I was overworked speaking Sabbaths and Sundays, for four weeks, besides much writing; and then down I came, unexpectedly, very sick, and have not attended one meeting since. Could not attend the Week of Prayer meetings. Mind and body were sick. I have for three days been much better and shall now try to be more sensible in my labor. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 1

While at Parramatta I rode twelve miles from Summer Hill to attend the meeting. The house was full. We had appointed meetings at different places, Hamilton first. I was very weak in physical strength, but the manifest demonstration of the Spirit of God lifted me up above my infirmities and it did me no harm. The little church was full, and we had excellent meetings. Brother Colcord, Elder Robinson, Elder Gates, and W. C. White were present. Several from Maitland were there, about thirty-two. Several were on the point of deciding to obey the Lord and take their stand at that meeting. One or two more souls have decided as the result of that meeting. One man decided under great difficulties from the opposition of his wife. He has been convicted a long time, and now he has lost his position. May the Lord give him strength and grace to do His will. Brother Miller, the dyer, says he never was converted until that meeting, and we hope that God will give him strength to hold fast to the faith. One from Maitland took his stand, and still others are hanging in the balance. The Lord gave me a clear-cut testimony and it went home to souls with power. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 2

The next Sabbath meetings were in Parramatta with a house as full of people as could be seated. The meetings were excellent. It was in returning, after speaking for one hour in the afternoon, that unconsciously I became chilled and could not get warm. For many hours my flesh is as marble; but that was the most grand meeting. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 3

One young man who has been converted to the truth somewhere near Thornleigh was with his brother. They were keeping house together. The converted brother is one of the most earnest, zealous, pious workers we have seen since old times. He works in purchasing all the books treating on present truth and loaning them to everyone who will read them. His father and mother are Wesleyans of the strongest kind, and full of the bitterest opposition to Adventists. The father says he will not have one of our books or any of our papers in his house. He will burn them. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 4

These two sons have some cousins living miles from the father. The believer encouraged the unbelieving brother to go with him to Parramatta and he heard, he reports, Mrs. White speak. They walked twenty miles to attend this meeting. Now this brother has heard the truth. He is deeply convicted, and the poor man knows not what to do to find relief. His brother is praying for him. There are several families that are keeping the Sabbath. All are isolated and separated for miles in the mountainous region, but they assemble together and the young brother worker leads the meetings and conducts Sabbath school and Sunday school. If ever anyone had the spirit of a true worker, they say he has it, and he is sowing the seed for a harvest. I wish we could see many more young men who, notwithstanding their business engagements, would, without making a charge of time or expense to the conference, see what can be done in isolated families. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 5

One intelligent woman came to Cooranbong three weeks ago. She is a Sabbathkeeper, but the first discourse she ever heard was during this visit to Cooranbong. Brother Pocock sent for her to care for his wife who was sick, for this family were their neighbors four miles away, and Brother Pocock thought this advantage she could have and still do her errand of treating his wife through her confinement. I was glad to meet this woman and to learn the particulars that I have just given you of these two young men. We took her and Sister Wessels, who had been with us a few days, to the station. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 6

Why cannot men and women be encouraged, notwithstanding their business, to take their evenings and Sabbaths and Sundays to work in out-of-the-way places, and thus let their light shine? There is too much self-ease and self-pleasing. The truth we profess to believe is very precious and very important, too much so to be hidden away in a corner. Oh, if all who know the truth would appreciate it as of such value that they could not keep it to themselves, but would make every effort they could to give to other souls the light God has given them! Then the light would penetrate to many secluded places to be a comfort and a blessing. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 7

This sister, who has been hearing the Bible truths from the ministers the past three weeks, returns to her home to rejoice in the truth, and to send the oldest member of the family to school. Brother Pocock will board her, and her mother will manage, although poor, to pay her tuition. I think I sent you a letter I wrote to her oldest daughter, in her absence from home, in response to a letter from the daughter. She saw the light from the Spirit of God. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 8

Dear Brother Haskell, I will write a few lines more, and as my head is weary and I am not strong, I will close my epistle. We have had a great revival in our school. The Week of Prayer was one of the special manifestations of the Spirit of God. Last Sabbath twenty-five were baptized, all students but one, who is engaged in the printing business of our press. He was converted in the camp meeting at Newcastle. The blessing of the Lord is in our school, and the Lord is working with the people in the suburbs. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 9

A short time ago we could not find a place where we could hold meetings in Maitland, but now there are openings in several places. Sunday night meetings are kept up, rain or shine. I think it is owing to this effort that the community is stirred. Sunday and Sabbath meetings are held at Dora Creek in the little room hired for Sabbath meetings, and out-of-door meetings on Sunday. They are all at work to make a station large enough to accommodate those who are near Dora Creek, and there are about ten tents pitched to accommodate the workers, so we will not be compelled to have our produce and merchandise go round by Morisset. This gives us an opportunity to reach the class of working men and they seem interested. I wish many may be convicted of the truth. We see openings on every side of us that we are not able to fill properly, but may the Lord open the way, is our prayer. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 10

Brother and Sister Lyndon have hired a home in Mount Vincent and are seeking to become acquainted with the people there and giving Bible readings. I spoke to them there a few weeks ago; the Lord gave me freedom and our congregation was much interested. It is in the very neighborhood of the Good Templars’ Hall that Brother Lyndon is at work. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 11

We want to work every station between Morisset and Queensland. There will be another camp meeting at Maitland, East or West, as soon as the season is favorable to let people there have a chance to hear the straight, plain “Thus saith the Lord,” from His living oracle. This must be done, for the ministers are full of opposition and hatred. They have misstated us and misinformed the people as to what Seventh-day Adventists do believe. This meeting will, we believe, break the shell of enmity against the truth. We have never met a stranger in any place, and yet souls are deciding for the truth amid all the falsehoods heard against us. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 12

The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth at all times of conflict. God is a sure refuge for His people. We are under the shadow of His protection. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” [Matthew 28:20.] 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 13

Last Friday W. C. White was presented by Mrs. White with a daughter. All are doing well. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 14

With much love. 15LtMs, Lt 188, 1900, par. 15