The Lord's people have heard of the interesting work among the sailors in various parts of the country; we feel that it is near akin to the Foreign Field, so place a few items before our readers for their interest and prayers. A beloved brother, now with the Lord, devoted the latter years of his life to this work. He had formerly been an importer, and was greatly interested in the "men of the sea," as he used to call them. He had gospel work greatly on his heart, and would have loved to travel in that service, but age and infirmity prevented. He used to say that the Lord brought the men to him from all over the world, as he could not go to them. He had much fruit in this service, which remains to this day. We add a brief word as to the various ports where our dear brethren are laboring:
Boston :-Our brother J. W. Gibb writes, "The work in the Boston Harbor goes on as usual, and I trust the Lord will save some soul who has been spoken to. It is getting darker now after work, and it makes it quite dangerous around the ships, but with added prayer to God for His guidance and protection, I get on as many ships as possible." Our brother sends a report of ships visited, which will give some idea of the nature of this service, from which we cull a few extracts:
"Louise Neilson (Norwegian). All received tracts, 2 Gospels, 2 Daniel Mann. Steward a believer, and has a Bible."
"Carlsholm (Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian). Captain very indifferent, also 1st Engineer. Cook has a Bible and claims to be a believer."
"China Maru (Japanese). All received tracts, 3 Gospels. Officers very indifferent to Christians."
"Californiain (American). All received tracts. Steward tells me the Bible is his best book. He has more time ashore when in San Francisco, so I gave him brother Z.'s address, and he promised to look him up."
"Simbilan (Dutch), Chinese and Malays forming the crew. All except the Malays received tracts. A good opportunity, and very attentive to the Gospel."
"Masirah (British) crew of British and Hindoos. All received tracts."
"Storm King (American) American and Filipino sailors. All received tracts, 2 Gospels."
From these items it will be seen what a wide field this work offers. Many nationalities are reached in this way. May the Lord bless and sustain our dear brother in his work for the Master.
New Orleans.-Our brother Ernest Atkinson finds his hands full in this great port, where sailors from all lands come.
San Francisco.-Our brother Zimmerman is finding an open door here.
Buffalo.-A Lake port, but with multitudes of men to be reached. Brother Peters labors here.
New York.-Our brother West is devoting himself to this vast harbor, with its unlimited work-foreign lands brought, we might say, to our very door.
We hope to have interesting reports from these dear brethren to share with our readers. Meanwhile let us have them much on our hearts in prayer.
Irumu, Congo Beige, Aug. 21,1925.
Dear Brother Fawcett:
Our goods are arriving at Kasengi. I went from here to attend to them, forty miles on bicycle and a mule borrowed from A. I. M. Missionary. Our motor bike got sidetracked in Uganda. We are tracing it but so far are without it. All are well. The ladies started school for the natives this week while I was away. Have been having usual services Sundays and a Gospel Meeting for the Natives, with a Christian native here preaching. Also regular Bible readings and prayer meetings. All are getting a good start on the language, which is not exceedingly difficult. The children are very well. Have done some gardening since -we arrived; potatoes, peanuts, corn and small vegetables. We expect a month more of rain, so should have these things for good if rains do not fail.
We expect to start making bricks within a week, also expect to saw boards as soon as our saw arrives. The Government has agreed to bring our freight by motor car to the encampment and from thereon we are arranging for ox-wagons to within three miles, and from there by native porters, D. V. I am going again to the Lake to attend to its coming forward, Searle staying to look after the work here. Have some 25 workmen, and expect 50 more when we start on the bricks. Total cost of freight on goods Mombasa to Kasengi, plus Agents' fees and incidentals, came to $1200. Total customs will be about $550. Goods have come through in good condition on the whole, only a few cases broken. Settlement for station here awaits arrival of field director of A. I. M. next month. Have two A. I. M. missionaries here as patients and two more coming later. Must close here. Trust others of the party are finding time to write more news home than I am, but there is much to be done, and all at once. With love in our Lord Jesus and greetings to all in His Name,
R. C. Woodhams, M. D.
Work among the American Indians
We insert the letter of our sister Miss Minnie Armerding as giving us a picture of the need among the aborigines of this country. Other accounts will follow, if the Lord please, of all that the Lord is doing with these who are as much heathen as those in foreign lands.
co J. P. Anderson, Valentine, Ariz.
Dear Mr. Ridout:
Oct. 13th, 1925.
You will no doubt be interested in a preliminary report of the work out here in the South-west. I arrived here last Wednesday, and received a very kind welcome from the Andersons, and since then have been introduced to the activities in this field.
Valentine itself consists principally of the Truxton Canyon Indian School with its 218 Indian pupils, and the cottages of the Government employees, and Mr. Anderson's home. There is an Indian camp up behind the School property . Five miles away at Hackberry is another comparatively large Indian camp, and then of course there are scattered huts here and there. The principal work here is with the school children. The Andersons have been having a Thursday afternoon class with the little tots under ten years of age, and on Thursday evenings Mr. Anderson gives a Bible lesson to the older children. On Sunday mornings we have Sunday School for all the children and the Government employees between 10 and 11 o'clock, and in the evening, from 6:30 to 7:30, Mr. Anderson preaches the gospel at the school. We now have them divided into four classes; a Bible class for the white and Indian employees of the School; a little tots' class of about 85, a boys' class for those over 10 years of age, and a girls' class, also for those over 10. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson each have a class, and one class is taken by a Mrs. Andrews, who is the wife of the Government doctor here, and they have given me the girls' class. Last Sunday was my first session with them. There were 59 altogether, including 20 Walapis, 16 Hopis, 7 Papagos, 6 Navajos, 4 Supais, 3 Mohave Apaches, 2 Monos, and 1 Tonto Apache. Twenty-five of these girls have confessed Christ and were baptized by Mr. Anderson in June. The others, so far as we know, are still unsaved.
The work at the School is pleasant, because the children are under authority and must be orderly and clean, and are required to come to all of these classes. It is the work outside of School that is most difficult and trying, especially in the camps. Disease and filth, together with a more or less stolid indifference, abounds, and one feels that it is, humanly speaking, impossible to reach the old Indians, and difficult to hold the younger ones when they leave the School and go back to these filthy homes and the old ways. And unless they have been truly converted, that is what they invariably do. It is only a "born again" Indian that will change his ways. It requires much grace to carry on such work, and I am praying for this. Mrs. Anderson is a wonderful example and inspiration for me. When she enters one of these dirty huts, she forgets all about the disease and filth and thinks only of the precious souls lying there, for whom Christ died. I covet to be able to do the work as she does it. Mrs. Anderson visits the camps regularly once and sometimes oftener in a week.
The Indian camps at Kingman, 35 miles west of here, require the same patient plodding work, and Mrs. Anderson goes there whenever she can leave Valentine. Miss Olson has been doing a great deal among the Mexicans and Whites at Kingman. Mr. Anderson built a new chapel there, especially for the Mexicans and Whites, as the Indian work has to be done mostly in the camps. Some godly souls at Kingman, who have become dissatisfied with Modernism in the systems, have separated themselves, and are using the new chapel for their meetings on Sundays and one evening during the week. Carl has arranged to come over from Albuquerque (a 17 hour journey) once a month, D.V., to preach in Spanish on Saturday evening to the Mexicans, and in English to the whites on Sunday. He has been there once, and is to come this month on the 17th and 18th, next Saturday and Sunday. This will be a great help to the believers there, and we look forward to seeing many souls saved.
It is my desire eventually to locate at Kingman, and divide my time between that place and Valentine. I am needed here on Sundays for the Sunday School work, and I hope to get into the camp work at Kingman during the week. I would however like to continue for a little while with the Andersons, as I realize that Mrs. Anderson by her example will do much to fit me the better to carry on the work.
We need your prayers, as the work here is difficult and often discouraging, and yet every now and then there is such a bright testimony for Christ from one and another of the Indian converts, that we know the work is not in vain. One of the Andersons' converts, a young Indian lad of 19, was hung on Saturday for murder. He was converted here at the School, but the temptations of the old life proved too much for him and eventually led to the terrible sin of murder. He had to pay for it with his life, but the testimony he bore for Christ after his conviction was so bright, both in his letters to his father, an old Indian medicine man at Kingman, and to Mrs. Anderson, and on the gallows, that he has probably done more for his people by his death than if he had continued here. He had perfect peace with God through faith in his precious Saviour, as he put it, that he preferred to go and be with Christ to staying in this world of sin and temptation.
With much love to you and all the dear saints, I am, Your sister in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Minnie Armerding.
The two letters that follow were omitted last month for lack of space.
26a Gatacre St., Woodbrook, Trinidad.
Messrs. H. Fawcett & H. Gillings, Sept. 7,1925.
Dear brethren:-Your letter enclosing draft from the Missionary funds under your care came safely to hand on the 5th and for which I am asking you to accept my most sincere thanks. It is very kind of you to have considered me, among others of our Lord's servants. The Lord knows that I am endeavoring daily to make known to the unsaved the riches of His grace and love, and to help on fellow believers, both those in fellowship with us, and others who are among other companies of Christians, into a deeper knowledge of the truth, as God has been pleased to make it known to me, so that they may grow up in Him and thus walk worthy of the vocation wherein we are called. I feel that my efforts are feeble, nevertheless I am greatly encouraged to press onward, as I realize how our God stands by me giving me bodily strength, keeping the door open, ministering to the up-keep of the gospel and my own personal needs. We are blessed in seeing fruit here and there of His grace. We are also persevering in our efforts to maintain and increase our little Sunday School, and the weekday Bible Class opened up by my daughter, and this much loved work among the children is being carried on against great odds.
Some sisters sent us some old and new clothing for children last June, which came in time for our midyear treat and was distributed among several of the children. We will gladly welcome at all times any such clothing, especially for girls from 8 to 16 years.
Thanking you once more I close with sincere love from us to you all, Yours in Christ,
Joseph B. Hoze.
Quai de la Barre, Tonneins, Lot-et-Garonne. Mr. Howard Gillings, Sept. 2,1925.
Dear brother in Christ:-Your letter of the 20th of August bringing us the gift from the Missionary Fund, came to hand yesterday, and we are very thankful to the Lord for it. We are also very thankful to you and to the Brethren who have sent the money.
Some days ago I sent you some copies of France and Work; it will give you some details as to how the Lord is leading us in His service.
If the Lord should tarry I hope to publish an illustrated Gospel paper for children. Since our arrival here I have had difficulty in getting suited tracts and periodicals for the young, really there are none for them in France, and this is why I have been exercised about it for over a year.
Lord willing it will be published every other month and will be free for all. Kindly pray our God with us that He might be pleased to bless it to the honor and glory of His Son, and to the blessing of many children.
I am, yours in Him,
Louis J. Germain.
Intelligence in Prayer for the Foreign Work
In Matt. 9:36 we are told that when our Lord "saw the multitude, He was moved with compassion on them." Then He said (vers. 37, 38), "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." And in John 4:35 He commands His disciples to "Look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest," and at once speaks of reaping, and the wages and fruit resulting from this. In this way Scripture connects prayer, and the giving of ourselves for the work of the Lord as regards His harvest, with a definite knowledge of the need.
And how, otherwise, could we pray intelligently for the work or those engaged in it, knowing neither the circumstances nor trials incurred? It may have been with a view to this that Paul described his work to the saints at Antioch. And since we have the scriptural example of the apostle and those with him relating to the saints the circumstances and result of the work committed to him, as well as the book of the "Acts" itself (a record for the saints of the blessed operations of the Spirit of God in spheres other than their own), may we not say that to slight this side of things is to refuse what is intended for encouragement and exercise in the work of the Lord?
As a result of the apathy in this line, we have heard saints praying for the spread of the gospel in the "country" of Africa, not having any slightest idea that this "continent" is among the largest, 5,000 miles long, and nearly as wide The fact is, 'Africa" is to many merely a name, and the work done in the gospel there is as unknown to them as the continent itself was generally in the days of the Portuguese explorers.
In order to intelligently uphold our brethren in prayer, as well as enter fully into the material side of fellowship, it is necessary to know something of the people among whom they work-their own religious views, their mentality, their civilizations; also to know something of the climate of the country where a brother may be serving the Lord. Then we shall be able in a definite way to enter into hearty sympathy with him in his work, and hold him up before the throne of grace, a most blessed, helpful form of service, open to every child of God.
Robert J. Little.
We are glad to insert this introductory paper by our brother, which we expect will be followed by brief papers in line with what he has said here, giving sketches of the various fields. We are very thankful for the response to our little department, and hope in the next year to make it even more interesting and helpful. S. R.
CALLED HOME
The Lord has called to Himself our beloved brother Mr. C. Grain, well-known to most either personally or through his helpful written ministry.
Our brother had been in California during the past few years of his life, and devoted himself to the ministry of the Word in those parts. While gifted as a teacher, he had, as all should have, a heart for the gospel and rejoiced at its dissemination Mr. Grain had been identified with "Brethren" for more than fifty years; was acquainted with Mr. Darby and others of the "fathers." Through many times of stress he sought to be helpful to God's people. For several years he edited a magazine, "The Shepherd's Voice," and was also a frequent contributor to other of our periodicals. His painstaking studies in Romans, first Epistle of John, and other writings, are still to be had, and in them we can see that loyalty to the truth and faith in our Lord and His Word which marked him. Scholarly, as well as thorough, modest and retiring, he loved and was loved by a large circle of acquaintances.
Our brother was a diligent student of the Word, so it was true of him, "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread." Let us emulate his example. The men who have served in the Church of God have been faithful students. Let us pray the Lord to raise up more like him, giving themselves to reading, studying, and meditating upon the word of God, and the literature which will open up its treasures-not primarily for the purpose of giving out what we have learned, but to become better acquainted with the mind of God, more in communion with the Father and the Son. Then our "profiting will appear unto all." We will have words in season at our public meetings, or be able to contribute helpful articles to the various periodicals. May the Lord stir up our younger brethren as to these things. Large numbers are getting High School and University Education; are they using this to make them more familiar with the things of God? What a vast field there is-the Scriptures with all their divine fulness of truth.
Our beloved brother survived his wife a number of years. When his strength began to fail, he found a happy and congenial rest in the "Home for Aged Saints" at Burlingame, Calif. The end came quickly-scarcely more than a day after the first stroke. His body was laid to rest near the scene of his later labors. He had nearly reached the age of 80.
So we part, till the time, so near, when we shall hear the welcome call for
"All the redeemed, from the earth, from the tomb, To be to Thy praise, blessed Saviour, at Home." S. R.