Chapter 28—The Need of Trained Workers
I have been deeply interested in the relation of a recent experience
of Elder Daniells, who, on his way from Melbourne to Adelaide,
stopped at a town called Nhill, to visit some young men who have
been sending in orders to the Echo office for our papers and books. He
found here a young man by the name of Hansen, a Dane, who chanced
upon the Echo at a public library, and became an interested reader
of the paper. The subjects of truth presented in its columns found a
place in his heart, and he began to talk about them to a friend at the
hotel where he was in service. This man, Mr. Williams, also became
interested, and they sent in orders for other publications, becoming
regular subscribers to the paper. Elder Daniells found them eager for
a better knowledge of the truth. Upon the table of Mr. Williams was
found “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” and several other
books published by our people. They had seen but one man who was
of our faith. They bought from Elder Daniells three copies of “Steps
to Christ,” so that they might have one apiece, and another to give to a
minister. Elder Daniells was pleased with his visit, and encouraged by
his conversation with these inquirers after truth.
These men had studied the truth from the printed page and the
Bible, and had accepted all points of doctrine as far as they could
understand them without the aid of the living preacher. A great work is
going silently on through the distribution of our publications; but what
a great amount of good might be done if some of our brethren and
sisters from America would come to these colonies, as fruit growers,
farmers, or merchants, and in the fear and love of God, would seek
to win souls to the truth. If such families were consecrated to God,
He would use them as His agents. Ministers have their place and their
work, but there are scores that the minister cannot reach, who might
[213]
be reached by families who could visit with the people and impress
upon them the truth for these last days. In their domestic or business
relations they could come in contact with a class who are inaccessible
to the minister, and they could open to them the treasures of the truth,
174