Shall We Not Move Forward? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 38.

Shall We Not Move Forward?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THE most important question that can be raised by those looking for the second coming of Christ is, How can we most speedily prepare for that event? what steps can we take that will best forward the work, and find places for those who wish to labor in the cause? During the past eighteen months many important steps have been taken, which relate to the prosperity of the work. Our brethren in California never have been behind in furnishing means and men to advance the cause of present truth. No means should be spared to properly educate missionary workers, not only in our native tongue, but also in the French, German and Danish languages. There should be places where those of other tongues who may not be able to speak the English language, can receive instruction the same as our American brethren do in our city missions. There is no move that more clearly bears the mark of the approval of Heaven than the establishing of city missions where young men and women are trained for usefulness in the cause. In many instances Bible workers can find access to those whom the preacher cannot reach; and when the word of God, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, has once fastened itself upon the mind, it makes an impression which will finally bear fruit to the glory of God.

To rightly divide the word of truth is important, and the people are few indeed who can take the Bible and successfully hold a Bible-reading without some little instruction. Any one can take a work on the subject and ask the questions which are printed, and let the answer be read by the person with whom he is holding the reading, but this may be simply formal, the same as anything else connected with the cause. The soul should be inspired with the love of God, and the individual holding the Bible-reading should feel the burden and the importance of the work. When this is the case, there is scarcely any Bible-reading but that will need rearranging in some particulars in order to be adapted to special cases. This faculty of adaptation, how to get access to the people, and many of those things can be learned from a successful teacher having charge of a city mission. There are many other things also which can be taught in a city mission. Important points of history that have a bearing on the fulfillment of prophecy, Bible customs and manners, and various things which throw light on portions of scriptures used in the reading, should, we believe, be brought into the instruction given at our city missions.

But is there any effort made among the French in California, and the Danes, and Swedes, and Germans, in this particular respect? Should not our brethren on the Pacific Coast, in view of the times in which we live, make one grand rally in this respect? Why should not all of the principal cities on the Pacific Coast, that come in the range of the California Conference, and even those which are not confined to that Conference, be entered by Bible workers? Why should not the country be thoroughly permeated with the teachings of the Bible? The time has come for advance steps to be taken, and shall not this camp-meeting witness a move in this direction? We believe it will, and somehow in our heart we feel that God will come near to us, and will pour out his Spirit, and we shall see of his salvation. We look forward to this meeting with a greater degree of interest than to any camp-meeting ever held in the State. We believe that there is much pending, and if our brethren come up from different parts of the State expecting to meet the Lord, they will not be disappointed.

S. N. H.