Imagine stepping back to 1885 in Melbourne. This marks the humble beginning of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Australia. Picture a small group of missionaries. They arrived with a burning desire to share their message.
This story begins with Stephen Haskell. He led a team of dedicated individuals. They left San Francisco aboard the Australia. Their goal was to establish the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The team included evangelists Mendel Israel and John Corliss. They also included their wives and children. Printer Henry Scott and colporteur William Arnold completed the group.
Upon arriving in Melbourne, they rented a home in Richmond. It was named Sumerlide. Haskell discovered that copies of the Signs of the Times and other denominational books were already available in the local library. These books had been sent from California.
The group purchased a small printing press. It allowed them to print advertising material. Scott used his bedroom as a print shop. Bible studies were held in private homes. However, progress felt slow to the missionaries. Arnold sold copies of Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation. The book was complex and needed time to assimilate.
To accelerate their work, the missionaries established the Echo Publishing Company. They acquired a larger press. They also registered their periodical, Bible Echo and Signs of the Times. Public evangelistic meetings were crucial. Corliss and Israel wanted to start these meetings. They purchased a large tent with an extension. This helped them avoid high rents for public halls.
The tent meetings began in North Fitzroy in October 1885. Attendees donated to cover advertising and site rental costs. The meetings were successful. On January 10, the Melbourne Church was officially organized. It had 28 members. Soon, the number grew to 45. Initially, they worshipped in the Russell Street Temperance Hall. Later, they built their own church in North Fitzroy.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church grew. Colporteur Arnold trained early converts. William Wainman and John Stockton were among them. They canvassed Hobart in 1887. They sold Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation. George and Isabella Foster and John and Harriet Higgins started observing the Sabbath.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church’s influence spread. By 1901, the church had 48 colporteurs. They were well-organized across Australia. The Echo Publishing Company printed periodicals, tracts, and books. One best-seller was The Coming King. The church established health institutions. These institutions served as evangelistic facilities.
Today, the Seventh Day Adventist Church continues. The publishing work functions as Signs Publishing Company in Warburton. Avondale University College has grown. It now welcomes students from various faiths. The Sydney Adventist Hospital remains a major health institution. In 2018, Australian membership reached 61,918. They worship in 432 churches and 114 companies. The Seventh Day Adventist Church’s legacy in Australia is a story of faith. It shows determination and growth.