p. 3 | Fitting His People by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 19, 1913

Fitting His People

By C. M. S.

THERE was probably no one who was in attendance at the recent General Conference who would doubt that in this meeting God was fitting his people for a greater work and a more rapid work than they have heretofore accomplished. In department work, in open conference work, in committee work, and in the public addresses given, this fact stood out in bold relief.

Our one great business was constantly held before the people—the warning of the world, the completion of the work of carrying the gospel message to the ends of the earth, that heaven might soon put the stamp of completion upon the work which this people is commissioned to do.

Here was a school, conducted in many departments, with all the departments working to a common end,—the better and swifter proclamation of the third angel’s message to the ends of the earth.

In the Sabbath School Department the end in view was the better training and fitting of teachers to teach more perfectly and with more telling results the truths of the message, that the world might the sooner be warned and the way be the more quickly prepared for the return of our blessed Lord.

In the Educational Department the one dominant theme was the better training and better fitting of consecrated

teachers who might the more quickly and more perfectly instruct the students of our schools, not only in the elements of education, but in the principles of the gospel, in the tenets of present truth, and in the various branches of activity connected with this work, so that the work committed to this people might be the more quickly done, and the jewels of the kingdom be gathered home.

In the Medical Department the instruction was varied, but the one aim was plainly apparent,—such a fitting of physicians and nurses for the work given to them that the general work of proclaiming the gospel message might be the more expeditiously carried forward; that with the healing of the body there might come that healing of the soul which is of such infinite worth to the individual.

In the Religious Liberty Department there was a free presentation and discussion of the principles of soul freedom as set forth in the gospel, in opposition to the principle of soul bondage that has wrought such havoc in the world; and in the setting forth of these principles there was seen the last phase of the gospel message,—the warning against the application of force in the worship of God, the warning against the worship of the beast and his image, or the reception of the mark in hand or forehead. Thus the training given in this department fitted men and women to do better work in proclaiming the fundamental principles of the message. The heart of the message of the third angel is a warning against compulsion in worship; and this department of the general work is set for the special work of making known to all the world the principles that underlie that warning. As far as the work of the third angel goes, the work of this department must go. The people of all the world must know why it is wrong to bow down under compulsion of law, and worship at the behest of human edicts. So this department contributes its quota to the great project set before this people.

We find the same aim held before the Missionary Volunteer Department. Running through all the plans and suggestions and instructions that came before the members of that department was the great thought of preparing loyal-hearted young workers to go out into the field and bring to a knowledge of the truth those who are yet in the darkness of unbelief, or to whom, though Christians, there has never come the blessed gospel of the everlasting kingdom.

These are but parts of one great work, sections of one great circle whose circumference is the world’s need and whose center is Christ. It is a work not of man’s devising, and therefore no device that is planned against it can triumph over it. Such a work as this is of necessity and demands such a system as this is. The smoothness of its working is one of the miracles of God; the work that it is accomplishing in spite of opposition and persecution contradicts the idea that it is a work of man; and the unfailing prophecies of God’s Word show us, step by step, where we are, and what God has yet for us to do. C. M. S.