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be no delay. The school must be opened at the time named. So we laid
the matter before the church, and called for volunteers. Thirty men
and women offered themselves for the work; and although it was hard
for them to spare the time, a strong company continued at the work
day after day till the buildings were completed, cleaned, and furnished,
ready to be used at the day set for opening the school.
When the time came for this meetinghouse to be built, there was
another test of faith and loyalty. We had a council to consider what
should be done. The way seemed hedged about with difficulties. Some
said: “Enclose a small building, and when money shall come in,
enlarge; for we cannot possibly complete at this time such a house as
we desire.” Others said, “Wait till we have money with which to build
a commodious house.” This we thought to do; but the word of the Lord
came to me in the night season, “Arise, and build without delay.”
We then decided that we would take hold of the work, and walk
out by faith to make a beginning. The very next night there came from
South Africa a draft for two hundred pounds. This was a gift from
Brother and Sister Lindsay, of Cape Town, to help us in building the
meetinghouse. Our faith had been tested, we had decided to begin the
work, and now the Lord put into our hands this large gift with which
to begin.
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With this encouragement the work was begun in earnest. The
school board gave the land and one hundred pounds. Two hundred
pounds was received from the union conference, and the members of
the church gave what they could. Friends outside of the church helped,
and the builders gave a part of their time, which was as good as money.
Thus the work was completed, and we have this beautiful house, ca-
pable of seating four hundred people. We thank the Lord for this house
in which to worship Him. He understands all the strait places through
which we were brought. When difficulties arose, Elder Haskell, who
was superintending the work, would call the workmen together, and
they would pray earnestly for God’s blessing upon themselves and the
work. The Lord heard prayer, and the house was completed in seven
weeks.—
The Review and Herald, November 1, 1898
.
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