Across the Pacific
265
On her sixty-fourth birthday, one day before the ship reached
Samoa, Mrs. White wrote:
“As I contemplate the past year, I am filled with gratitude to God
for His preserving care and loving-kindness. We are living in a perilous
time, when all our powers must be consecrated to God. We are to
follow Christ in His humiliation, His self-denial, His suffering. We
owe everything to Jesus, and renewedly I consecrate myself to His
service, to lift Him up before the people, to proclaim His matchless
love.”
About noon, December 3, the Alameda tied up to the Auckland
wharf. Very soon a number of representative members of the Auckland
church were on board, welcoming the party to New Zealand. All were
invited to the home of Brother Edward Hare. During dinner many
incidents of Elder Haskell’s first visit were related. In the afternoon
an inspection was made of the city and its beautiful suburbs. In the
evening, in the first Seventh-day Adventist meetinghouse built south
of the equator, Mrs. White spoke to an eager congregation, on the love
of Jesus.
Early next morning the Alameda proceeded on her way, and entered
Sydney harbor at 7 A.M., December 8. Elder and Mrs. A. G. Daniells
were waiting at the wharf. During the week spent at their home Mrs.
White spoke twice to the Sydney church.
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December 16, the party reached Melbourne, and were given a most
hearty welcome by Elder Geo. C. Tenney and his associates in the
publishing house. In anticipation of Mrs. White’s arrival, Elder Tenney
had vacated his new house, and insisted that she and her helpers walk
in and make themselves at home.
The Australian Conference Meeting
It was only a week till the time of the opening of the Australian
Conference, which was to be held in Federal Hall, North Fitzroy,
Melbourne, beginning December 24. There were in regular attendance
about one hundred representatives from the companies of Sabbath
keepers in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales.
At that time there were about four hundred and fifty Sabbath keep-
ers in all Australia and Tasmania. At the capital of each of the colonies