THE KING’S BUSINESS
420
told of the safe arrival of the ship; also that the vessel had met bad storms just after leaving the Golden Gate, during which most of the old men had died of seasick ness and were buried at sea. What a les son was learned; and how glad we were that these men were given the Gospel before leaving the last harbor which they were to enter with that ship. We thank God that we are not relying on the distribution of old newspapers and that, knowing no substitute for the old Gospel, we are enabled to speak to many of Him in their hour of need. On another page of this issue will be found a picture of the miniature lighthouse which we are hoping to place in many Christian homes. A postal to the Seamen’s Department, care of the Bible Institute, of Los Angeles, will bring one. They are free, but we have only a limited number, so that your request should be received as soon as possible. Fifty cents set aside each month will enable us to distribute the Gos pel on many ships all along the Coast. Pray much for us and the work. visited and the Word given out, after which, the weather being so very wet and the roads almost impassable, we went to Bak ersfield and tpok up work along the Asso ciated Oil Line. Received a hearty wel come at McFarland, the people coming and personally thanking us for a Bible reading on the Epistle of John, exposing the errors of Christian Science. There was much conviction here but no conversions. It rained torrents at Visalia, but God opened up the way for us and we met Brother Roark, an Institute boy, with whom we labored in a Gospel meeting for six days. We saw nine people converted that very wet week, and praise God for His goodness. We were greatly delighted
Stepping into the sailors’ forecastle on board a new arrival, a Japanese steamer, we found only one man present. As the Japanese Gospels were placed in the bunks and a tract offered this man, he reached under his pillow taking out a Japanese New Testament saying that it was given him in San Pedro. Inside the cover was the stamp of the worker and of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. He was reading it every day and we are sure the Lord is speaking to him. Although he had been transferred to another vessel, the Testament was treas ured and read. “Time is short!” On the last journey of a certain trans-pacific liner, among a large company of Chinese were a dozen real old men. The day of departure found the worker busy and the weather very bad, but a voice within seemed to keep the need before us. The ship was reached and the Gospel given to those dear people, though we felt burdened for the old men who gave the worker such a good welcome and took so readily the Chinese tracts offered them. A week passed and a cable from Honolulu I HAVE not hid thy righteousness within my heart: I have declared thy faithful ness and thy salvation. I have not con cealed thy Loving Kindness and Thy Truth from the great congregation.” These words from Psalm 401 were used by Mr. Spurgeon in what was almost his last ser mon, and are profitable meditation for the servants of the Lord. Some dear people were found in the Olinda fields, to whom we ministered the Word, and tried to create an appetite for the substantial things of God. In thé Mid way section, we had a fine response at Reward, preaching to a splendid congrega tion of about sixty oil men, and felt greatly encouraged. Many homes were
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WORK IN THE OIL FIELDS By Frank J. Shelley
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