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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
entered, a church had been established; and it was in these leading
cities that the bulk of the membership was located.
During the Conference, much thought was given to the question
as to how the message should be carried to all parts of the great
Australian continent by the handful of believers upon whom rested
the responsibility of holding up the light of the message. Thousands
of truth-filled books had been placed in the homes of the people by
faithful colporteurs, and plans were now laid for the employment of
Bible workers to follow up the interests awakened by the reading of
these books.
Consideration of School Interests
The majority of those who had embraced the truth in Australia,
were tradesmen living in the cities. As their children reached the age
when they must leave the public schools and prepare to assist in the
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support of the family, it was found, because of their observance of the
Sabbath, exceedingly difficult for them to secure employment or to
learn trades.
Some desired that their children should be trained to become labor-
ers in the cause. But how could this be accomplished? The colonies
were passing through a severe financial depression; and many of the
Sabbath keepers, with thousands of others, were greatly perplexed and
overtaxed with the work of supplying their families with the necessities
of life. Then how could they, at such a time, enter upon the expensive
enterprise of establishing and supporting a denominational training
school?
The canvassers pleaded that the school be organized without delay.
Many of them had been thrown upon their own resources in early life,
with but little school education; and their work among the people had
led them to feel that they must have opportunity to fit themselves for
more efficient service. These urged that if a school was not established
soon in Australia, they would be obliged to bear the great expense of
going to America to get the education necessary for the best success
in their work. They also said that while a few of them might be able to
do this, there were scores who might attend a school in Australia, but
who could not go to the schools across the sea.