THE WORK IN CANADA

Sunday, April 21, 9 A. M.

J. O. CORLISS: It seems singular that the center of the work of the third angel’s message has been so long in Battle Creek, within 125 miles of the borders of Canada, and yet at this late day Canada must be presented as a needy field; and yet it is so. While the United States has had abundance of labor, and we have had so many men in some places that they have been treading upon the heels of others, as in Michigan and California, yet right across the border there is a crying need for men to enter the destitute places. It is not my place this morning to take your time. There are as many as six persons here who want time to talk in this meeting. That does not mean very much time for each, so I will cease, and let others speak. We call on Brother Starr, President of the Ontario Conference.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.6

F. D. Starr: It was stated here the other day by a representative from Mexico that that country was our nearest neighbor. I think that is according to the way you are looking. If you will face about, you will find a neighbor a little nearer by. We are glad to have such a neighbor as that on the South; but after looking that way, turn and look the other way, and you discover that three or four hours’ ride on the railroad would bring you to a still nearer neighbor.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.7

The Dominion of Canada is vast in extent of territory. It about equals the United States. Of course territory does not amount to so much as the people. The population of Canada is something about 5,000,000; and while others will speak of other portions of the Dominion. I wish to say a few words in regard to Ontario.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.8

Ontario is one part of the Dominion. There is a federation that embraces all the nine or ten different provinces except Newfoundland, which is not in the federation. So the Provinces and their relation to the Dominion, or the Federation, is something similar to the relationship of the various States of the Union to the United States.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.9

Now as to Ontario: I fear that the most of us who have been all the time outside have very little conception of what that field is. I remember a good brother who asked me something like a year ago where I was laboring. I told him in Ontario. Said he, “Is that in Michigan?” When I informed him that it was not, and endeavored to tell him something of where it was, another brother said. “It is not very far from Buffalo, is it?” Well, part of it is not very far from Buffalo. As to the extent of Ontario, I will say that it is four times the extent of the territory of Michigan. The southern portion is the most thickly settled.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.10

As to the population: It about equals that of the State of Michigan; it has a little larger population than Wisconsin, and not quite the population of Michigan.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.11

Two years ago the matter of organization there was being agitated. It seemed then that it would be unfortunate to organize, because Ontario furnished such a field as the large Michigan Conference needed, into which to send its young workers to get an experience. But it was considered best to organize, and doubtless it was for the best. But the condition still remains the same. If the Michigan field, which has so many workers, would continue to send out its workers into that field, it would doubtless find more room to work on this side of the line. The plan of supporting work in foreign fields by Conferences that are stronger has been quite a little agitated here, and I am very glad it has. That plan would work most admirably in having this Conference as well as other Conferences that are doing that work for some destitute fields, to send workers into that field, and support them from their own treasury.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.12

The membership of the Ontario Conference is not quite 500. There are 14 or 15 churches. We have five church buildings. The canvassing work has been quite thoroughly carried on in that field, and at the present time is in a more encouraging condition than it has been. We feel quite well encouraged in regard to the prosperity of the canvassing work. Also within recent months our laborers have met with a better degree of success than formerly.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.13

We have quite a mixed representation there. Of course the population is largely English speaking. In the eastern portions there are many French, however. But Ontario has mainly an English-Protestant population.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.14

We have there quite a good many Indians. There are no less than three different reservations, where we have Sabbath-keepers, and in two of them organized churches.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.15

While I am speaking of the field in general, I would like to relate a little incident that has interested me very much. In one place in the Province a canvasser had disposed of some literature which fell into the hands of an Indian lady. The Montreal Star had offered a prize for the best composition on a certain subject, and this young woman won the prize: so you can see something of the degree of intelligence. It was a competition of all races. This lady, receiving our literature, began to keep the Sabbath. She soon induced her husband to do the same. They, associating with another man and wife, who are relatives, persuaded them to keep the Sabbath; so there were four of them. I went there a few months ago, and it was indeed refreshing to associate with these Indians. So far as adopting the health principles, these aborigines are in advance of many of our old Sabbath-keepers. I was very glad to see how the Spirit of the Lord had worked upon the hearts of these individuals.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.1

We have also a German population in one section of the Province. The country of Waterloo is nearly all German. There would be opportunity for a German laborer, who might be supported by some Conference, willing to do so.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.2

There has been much agitation in Canada regarding Sunday legislation. In Ontario some of our brethren have been imprisoned for violation of the Sunday law, the same as has been done in some of the Southern States. That question is a live one there at present, and the way the matter is being handled shows that the Lord is holding the winds of strife and commotion until his work can be accomplished in the earth.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.3

J. F. Ballenger: There is one special line that I wish to urge upon this body, and that is the medical missionary work. You may ask why we did not present this before the Medical Missionary Association. The General Conference and the Medical Missionary Association are now one. We think this united body is the one before which to present our plea. There has been almost nothing done in Canada in the medical missionary line: that is in Ontario. Three years ago this spring, however, we established a health-food plant in the city of London. Four brethren united, and raised a capital of five thousand dollars to put into that institution; but before doing this, we came here and consulted with the Health Food Board, which gave us encouragement in that work. Dr. Kellogg told us that if we made it pay expenses for the first two years, we might be well satisfied. We found it very difficult for us to get our foods before the people of Canada. It is harder for the Canadian people to change habits and customs, than for the people of the United States. It is therefore difficult to introduce the foods among the people, and especially so, where we have had no medical missionary work to help us to do so. If there is not something done in this line, I am fearful, brethren, that we shall sink the money that we have in that institution. It requires a good deal of capital to advertise, and we have spent considerable money in that way. In fact, all that we can spend; and so we want to ask of this body, or the Medical Missionary Association, that they shall help us by sending some medical missionary workers there to enlighten the people in regard to the value of these foods. When we established our factory we signed a contract with the Medical Missionary Board, that not one dollar of the proceeds of that plant should ever go to enrich any individual. It was to be a charitable institution, and we also agreed that no percentage should be charged on the money until the plant should be established on a thorough paying basis. We have never received any compensation for the use of the capital, and neither do we want to receive any. We want the plant to succeed, however, not for our benefit, financially, but for the good of the cause.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.4

Brother T. H. Robinson, who is the manager of the institution, authorized me to say to this body, if an opportunity was given me, that he would donate the capital he has invested, if the Medical Missionary Association will take the plant and run it. He has upward of two thousand dollars invested, but is willing to donate it to the Association if they will take it and look after it.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.5

I believe that a medical mission established there, would be an excellent thing for the work. Two years ago, Dr. Wilson, who was then the mayor of the city of London, was deeply interested in having a medical missionary, or a sanitarium established in the city of London, and he said that the city would donate liberally, if something of that kind could be established there.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.6

J. O. Corliss: Brother Watson, who has charge of the book work in Canada, wants a few minutes at this juncture.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.7

J. H. Watson: I would like to correct a statement that was just made in introducing me, and that is that I asked for any time. I did not. I never spoke to such a large audience as this in my life before.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.8

So far as the book work in the Dominion of Canada is concerned, I would not do it the injustice to try to bring it before you in a few minutes. I had an opportunity about three and a half years ago, to go there and spy out that land, and it has been my privilege to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is a good land, and we are well able to go up and possess it.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.9

I would like to emphasize the idea that when a man has a burden to go to Ontario, which is the place most spoken of, I suggest that he first sit down and count the cost of building a bridge, over which he expects to travel in going there and so build it large enough, and strong enough, to take his wife and little ones. Then having gone across, let him burn the bridge, so that he can not return.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.10

When I started out in the canvassing work, I started in too near home, and a temptation came along every week to go home. It proved disastrous to the work and to myself; so when there was an opportunity offered me to get as far from home as possible. I went. I have not succeeded in getting back yet. But if I have anything to say in regard to the book work, it is this: -GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.11

The things the book work is most suffering from in the Dominion of Canada, in all its provinces, is the reaction resulting from booms that have occurred from time to time in that Dominion. There have been times in the last ten years, when the book work was booming in Canada. But just as it was in the Klondike boom, there was a great rush over the place where the boom was most apparent, and of course it did not materialize in the minds of a good many. When it was over, naturally those who went there in the excitement, made calculations to get out as soon as it was over. Native workers concluded that if the experts who had come over to do business in such a large way could not succeed, it would be a practical impossibility for them to succeed. In consequence, the local workers, canvassers, and those who would be willing to enter into the ministry, were suffering the result of these reactions.GCB April 23, 1901, page 429.12

So I would not undertake to try to get up an enthusiasm, to get canvassers or other workers to go there in a time when the needs of the field are being graphically represented before you. I do not believe that kind of missionary work amounts to anything. But if there are those who want a place to work, and a place where they will have enough work to do until the Lord comes, why, I would say Canada is a great land.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.1

The idea to some extent has obtained that the canvassing work there has been pretty nearly completed, as far as it is possible to do so; but I believe that this difficulty I have spoken of is what has caused that idea to become prevalent. I do not want to laud that country more than is really true, but I do not believe that you have any territory better for the canvassing work, especially for our large books. I do not believe there is any better territory in which to sell the large books than that which you will find within three hundred miles of where you are sitting to-day. (D. T. Bourdeau: True!) Yes, Brother Bourdeau knows that, and he is probably in the place where, of all places in the Dominion, it would be hardest to sell books.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.2

I wish to speak of the importance of workers being raised up there, or going there who can do city work. The principal part of the population of Ontario is in Toronto. That city stands in the same relation to Canada, that Boston does to this country. There has been practically no work done in that city, either canvassing or ministerial work. There is a little church there, but it is very weak; and unless some of our strong men, who are fitted to meet the people that make up the population of such cities, shall go there, I know not how the problem will be solved.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.3

So if you should ask me to state in a few words - and I suppose that is all that I have opportunity to say - what is the greatest need in Canada at the present time, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I would say that the greatest need is for men who have experience in working in large cities, and among influential people, to go there, and take the truth in all its phases. While it is pretty well understood by those who have visited Canada, that the people are very conservative, it is also true that they are cosmopolitan. They are represented in the city of Toronto, Americans, English, Scotch, and Irish. So that while it is conservative, yet anyone who is qualified to meet these classes of people in any city in the United States or in England, will be qualified to meet that class in Toronto.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.4

J. O. Corliss: I think it is very evident, after listening to Brother Watson, that he wanted to speak, although he did not ask for the privilege. We are glad to have heard from him. We would like to hear next from Brother Nelson, from Manitoba and the Northwest.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.5

Andrew Nelson: Manitoba, in the Northwest, includes Assiniboie, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Alberta reaches almost to the North Pole; and because it is so near the North Pole, people think it is a very poor country to live in, because of intense cold. But, having been there two winters, I find that the climate there is superior to the climate of Michigan. When I have seen the calls in the Review for our brethren here in Michigan, and especially in Battle Creek, to move into new countries, my heart has felt like saying, Amen; and I wish that some of our good brethren in the States would come into the far Northwest, where there is good land and a healthful climate, and where there are lots of people who are anxious to hear the third angel’s message.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.6

Our mission field, which has been under the supervision of the General Conference, is about fifteen hundred miles long, and the population is about 300, 000. Most of our work has been done in Manitoba, which is a very prosperous province. Quite a number of railroads run through there, and there are a number of very prosperous towns. We have in this mission field two ordained ministers, three licentiates, and I think four Bible workers. For the German work we have one ordained minister in Manitoba and one worker in Alberta. And I am glad that this mission field has not been forgotten at this General Conference, but that we have already appointed to this field two more workers, - one for Alberta and one to work in Manitoba among the Germans. But we need very much one English-speaking minister, as we would like to put into the field, tents with English workers, and one with a German worker.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.7

We have three church buildings. Two of them were built last fall, and the other was secured on the last day of the old year; we purchased that in Winnipeg, which is a city of about 54,000 inhabitants. We would also like to have it so the minister you would send to us could labor a portion of his time in the great city of Winnipeg, as the people in Manitoba, and especially in Winnipeg, are a church-going people. They do not desecrate Sunday in that city. You will see people with their Bibles and hymn-books in hand, walking to church. The people are all church-goers, and are very much interested in religion.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.8

We have quite a population of Icelanders in Winnipeg, who have two large churches there. I met two Icelandic sisters, who are nurses working at the Sanitarium, and I was glad to know that they have a burden for the work among their people in Winnipeg and in the other cities of Manitoba. Then we have the Doukhabours, who have been imported by the British government. There are between 6,000 and 7,000 of these people. They are a very conscientious class; they will not go to war, and do not believe in killing. They are strict vegetarians, eating no meat at all; and when they are out laboring among the people, if there is any danger of there being the least bit of pork grease in any of the food, they will not touch it. When I was up to Saskatchewan last year. I saw their women plaster houses and working in the field, and sometimes they are hitched to the plow. They are a healthy, robust, and strong people.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.9

Then we have the Polanders. We need literature in these different languages, - the Icelandic, the Polish, and the Doukhabour. The Poles are very industrious and religiously inclined, and they like to read. But, so far, there has been no effort made to supply them with the literature with which we would like to supply them. The mission among the Germans is doing well. We have several large German churches throughout the mission field, and I am glad to know that the prospect before us is good. One thing very encouraging to us at the present time, is that the Northwest Union Conference, as I understand, is going to take our mission field, and they are going to help us all they can, as soon as this new organization shall be completed.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.10

The canvassing work in our field, as Brother Watson said, has had a hard time, on account of the great drought; and you who have had experience in drought in the States, know that such a time is very hard. I went to Manitoba a year ago last December, and we did not have a drop of rain from that time until July, the time of our camp-meeting, and as a result of that, it was very dry, and the wheat produced but a meager crop. Then the rainy season set in, and as a result of that we shall have a hard time in Manitoba. But we are expecting copious rains this year, so the crops will be good, and the canvassing work will prosper.GCB April 23, 1901, page 430.11

J. O. Corliss: We are glad to hear this account of the great Northwest. I confess that I have had my mind enlightened this morning regarding that country that I had supposed was almost uninhabitable because of the inclemency of the weather. I hope there may be young men sitting within this body this morning who will feel a burden to go to the Northwest. Here is one English minister called for, and I presume there are those who could respond to this. To go there might give one a richer and greater blessing from heaven than to remain where he is. The time is passing, and there are several who would like to speak. Brother Langdon is next on the list.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.1

Geo. E. Langdon: I did not know that I was to speak in behalf of the Maritime Provinces until Brother Corliss just called me. I have been up there six years, and some have asked me if we had to hibernate during the winter. Well, we had five days’ sleighing last winter, and this winter we had three weeks’ sleighing; so you see we are able to get around, as far as snow is concerned.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.2

The Maritime Provinces include the most eastern portion of the Dominion of Canada, extending to the eastward and northward from Maine. The population is about 1,500,000, the most of whom are English, there being a few Scotch, Irish, and French. The climate of the country is very healthful. We do not have such cold weather as you do here in Michigan: the coldest morning this winter, the thermometer registered only eight degrees below zero. In northern New Brunswick there is considerable snow during the winter, which remains from late in December until early in April, but the people get around in sleighs without difficulty.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.3

People in the United States usually have crude conceptions of the conditions existing across the border. But that country is quite similar to this. The principal industries of the Maritime Provinces are lumbering and fishing. Agriculture is carried on, although not so extensively as in the Western States. The country is not so very rocky and hilly, the soil is good, and the vegetation is abundant. All small fruits and apples are plentiful and yield abundantly. The apple crop is in excess of the home demand, so apples are shipped to England in large quantities. Vegetables grow there just as well as anywhere.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.4

Some have the idea that it takes about three years to learn how to adapt one’s self to the Canadian customs. Some persons do have to be there that long to learn how to labor right, if they take over with them the United States or some other country, and keep holding that up. When one goes there, he must go to work for the Lord, and not for the United States, and then he will never have any trouble in adapting himself to the people. People often ask me if I am a Canadian. I never draw any line. I am not working for the United States. It makes no difference to me whether I am a citizen of the United States or of Canada; for I am working for the Lord, and not for some country. Their manner of speech is almost identical with ours. The Loyalists of New England went over there at the time of the Revolution. But when a man comes there, and begins to tell about Johnny Bull’s first child that was rebellious and whipped his father, and all that, he will have plenty of trouble. If a man will come there, and leave his nationality behind, he will not have any trouble.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.5

There is not a better people on the face of the earth than those found in the Maritime Provinces. They are liberal and kind-hearted. Baptists prevail in these Provinces. Nearly all our Sabbath-keepers are from the Baptists. We have about three hundred. Some may think that it is difficult to start the work because the people move slowly. I labored for a year in one section, and at the end of that time there had come out and united with our people seventy-six persons within a radius of five miles. I have been asked. “Are they not conservative?”—Yes, somewhat. You can not stir them all up in two days; but if you go into a community, and the people find that you are really in earnest, and that you have a message for them, they become interested. While they are a conservative people, they are also a preservative people. They stay by the truth, and not many of them give it up.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.6

There is a Sunday law in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. The maximum fine is eight dollars or four days’ imprisonment. They never have imprisoned any of our brethren. It has been decided in Nova Scotia that it is not a Provincial matter, but that it belongs to the Dominion. They are not so strict in the Maritime Provinces as in Ontario. Street-cars and some trains run on Sunday, and the people are quite pleasure-loving, and like to get out on that day.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.7

’the people are liberal, not only on the point of religious liberty, but also in their attitude toward the United States. You can see by their actions that they are not bigoted in reference to the United States. They often say to me, “If England had treated the United States as liberally as she has us, probably the United States would be a part of England now.” I answer, “Yes.” When somebody begins to talk about the Rebellion, I say, “Well, if England had dealt with the United States as liberally as she has with Canada, we would be one great nation to-day.” This is true, and it seems to allay any prejudice, and create a bond of sympathy with us.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.8

We need help there. We have no schools of our own, no medical missionary work started, nothing of this kind. Consequently all our young people come over to the States and many of them never return. They become interested, and find some work in some way, and then remain in the States. If we had a school that would hold our young people there, I believe we would never have to call workers from this country.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.9

We need persons who will go over there with the love of God in their hearts; who will work for the Master; who have a message from the Lord. These will never have any trouble about adapting themselves to the people. I never found a people who were so liberal. I went to hold meetings in one place, and they voluntarily gave me forty-five dollars in cash. They came to get acquainted with us. At another place they gave me thirty dollars, and in another place where I was they raised forty dollars. So you can see what they will do out of love for the truth.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.10

J. O. Corliss: We have ten minutes remaining, and there are two others who were to speak—D. T. Bourdeau, of Montreal, and I. N. Williams, of the Quebec Conference. I have also just received a note asking that Dr. Hill, of the Six Nation Indians, be given time for a short talk concerning the work among his people. [Calls for Dr. Hill.] Doctor, they are calling for you.GCB April 23, 1901, page 431.11

Dr. Hill: I came from an Indian reservation. There are four thousand people in it, so, of course, there is a field for considerable to be done. I am glad to say there has been a little work done there to bring them the truth, and every two or three months our president calls. We are glad to see him, and have him help us what he can; but still we need more help than that. I will tell you the reason why: In this Indian settlement they have more Indians than in any other place in Ontario. The people in this reservation are quite well educated. They only need to get started, so that they themselves can go out to help others. We want to start from the bottom there, and have good work done in our settlement, and then I believe others can be reached.GCB April 23, 1901, page 432.1

I am sure that if you have feeling for our Indians, you will send a good man there. Of course there are such things as dreams. Some people do not believe in anything like that, but about three months before I came here, I had a dream. I saw Sister White, and talked with her, and she wanted to know what I wanted; I told her that I wanted a preacher there. She asked her that I wanted either Elder Ostrander or Elder Simpson. We are praying for something to come to our help, and our Indians look to me to do something for them. I am the only chief now in that settlement. I would like to see something done for my people; and, as I have said, a minister comes to see us once in a while, but what we need is for one to stay there a while. When Brother Simpson was there, quite a few families around just began to hang on. They used to come from ten and twenty miles to hear him, white people and Indians, and they were just beginning to take hold, when he was sent away. Now, we do not know what to do, but still our Indians are not weak. They are just strong enough to stand on their feet and not fall. I am glad to see that they are not going backward. We have got one or two since then, instead of going backward. So far there is nothing being done, but I would like to have it done so that we can help other Indians. We can reach them better than the white people can. That is the aim of it.GCB April 23, 1901, page 432.2

These people all look to me to build a little church for them, and a school, so I tried to start one about two years ago, and they helped by littles, each giving fifteen or twenty cents, and it came to about eighty dollars. We had stone drawn with timber, and sand, but the money was then gone. I am glad some good Christian people are seeing our needs. I have a little money in my pocket, about forty or fifty dollars again; so when I get home, I will go on again, and if no one else will do it, I will do it myself. I will finish it. That is my calculation, so that we can finish it and get ourselves started there and help the work in that country.GCB April 23, 1901, page 432.3

J. O. Corliss: When the doctor was talking, I was wonderfully struck with the oneness that is seen among all people who receive the third angel’s message. If you will notice, the whole burden of his talk was to be able to do something to reach other Indians. Is not that just the way you and I feel? If there was no other evidence in the world that the third angel’s message was of God, that would be evidence enough in my mind to show that it is the truth. It gives us a burden for others, and I am glad the third angel’s message operates this way among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. They want others of their own tongue to have the message.GCB April 23, 1901, page 432.4