Manuscript Releases, vol. 17 [Nos. 1236-1300]

MR No. 1260—Evangelistic Successes in Newcastle and Brisbane; Cooranbong`s Need for a Hospital

(Written March, 1899, from “Sunnyside”, Cooranbong, and Newcastle, N.W.S., to Philip W. Wessels in Cape Town, South Africa.)

I received your letter and feel very thankful that you have again taken your position under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel. May the Lord instruct you at every step. You will be tempted, you will be tried, but walk softly before God. Put your entire trust in the Lord. Serve Him with heart and soul, and believe that He pardons your transgressions and forgives your sins. He says in His word. “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me” [Isaiah 27:5]. The Lord is soon to come in the clouds of heaven. Then the trials and tribulations of this life will be over. 17MR 133.1

You speak of being in financial difficulties. I know, and our workers know, what this means. We have received nothing this year from our publishing houses to meet our outgoing expenses. We are waiting patiently as best we can. The laborers working on the school building need their money, but they cannot have it for there is no means in the treasury. But they have borne this bravely. 17MR 133.2

The providence of God has gone before us to open up new fields, and we must follow where Christ leads the way. The work in Brisbane, Queensland, has shown the distinct guidance of the Lord. An excellent spirit was manifested throughout the camp meeting there, and at its close the work was followed up mainly by Brother and Sister Haskell, Brother and Sister Wilson, and Brother Pallant. Brother Wilson is now asleep in Jesus. Brother Pallant has had to leave Queensland because of his health. For a long time he has been sick, but was unwilling to give up his work. He has been taking treatment at the Sanitarium in Summer Hill, laboring at the same time in Sydney. I felt distressed over the situation in Queensland. The tent has been leaking like a sieve, but the interest has not decreased. It seemed necessary to build a chapel, but the finances were so slow that it looked like an impossibility. 17MR 133.3

Meanwhile a camp meeting was held in Newcastle. We had feared we should have a small meeting during the holidays, but it proved to be just the time. The tent was crowded night and day. I spoke four times each week and had large congregations. The Lord has hitherto helped us. The health addresses have called out large congregations. Thirty-five have taken their stand for the truth, and they seem to be trustworthy. The net is still cast in the sea for more. I heard last night that forty were keeping the Sabbath in Newcastle, and among these there are many remarkable cases. They were taken right out of the world-men who were smokers and beer drinkers, and who have never made any profession of religion. They are soundly converted. They gave up their tobacco and their beer, and are full of hope and joy and courage in the Lord. This class never attended meetings anywhere before they kept the Sabbath. 17MR 134.1

Sunday School teachers and men in positions of trust have accepted the truth as a result of the camp meeting. One man has been baptized who has been a signalman on the railway for twenty years and always gave perfect satisfaction. He has a family of eight boys and one girl. This brother has lost his position but others who have accepted the truth have been allowed to retain their situations and keep the Sabbath. Many interesting cases have come to our notice, and still the work goes forward. 17MR 134.2

A cooking class is held in Newcastle by our people, and women come thirty and forty miles to attend this class. A branch sanitarium has been started in Newcastle. This work has just commenced, but it is doing well. 17MR 135.1

A health club has been formed of two hundred citizens. These are all classes of people, from all denominations, and they meet together once a week. 17MR 135.2

The truth has gained a signal victory in Newcastle, and doors are opening for us to do aggressive work. The lack of means is our only drawback. A church building must now be erected in Newcastle. There is an old stone church in Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle, which can be purchased for sixty pounds. It is in a good location. A larger church was built, and this old one was left to be the sport of larrikins [Australian for young hoodlums or vandals]. The floor has been pulled up and window panes broken. A new roof must be put on and new seats made. Then it would make a good meetinghouse. As two churches will have to be built in Newcastle we shall purchase this one if we can. It will accommodate two hundred people. If I had means I would get it at once. 17MR 135.3

We expect that the Lord will work in our behalf. We came to the point not long ago where I made a most earnest appeal to our brethren in America to send us money. A few days ago some money was sent me from California, the price of some property I had sold. We saw the great necessity in Brisbane, and I donated L100 of this money to help in the building of a church there. At the same time I loaned L100 to the Sanitarium in Sydney, which was in great need. In the mail before last L100 came to me as a loan from Elder Loughborough, to help in the building of a hospital in Cooranbong. This was sent to the Echo office, but as they had been obliged to purchase a new press because of the increase of work, and to add to their building to provide rooms in which to work, they could not honor my draft. I must wait until they can do this. 17MR 135.4