Speaking

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 25, 1910

SPEAKING of conditions found in eastern Sumatra, Pastor W. H. Williams, a worker for one of the Bible societies, says:—

“I had a long conversation with several Afghans from Cabul, which ended in each man purchasing a Gospel in his own language. But while it gave me great pleasure to supply the Scriptures to these different nationalities, I felt intensely sad as I saw the onward march of Mohammedanism, unchecked by the presence of even one Christian missionary. In Medan a magnificent mosque has just been built, at a cost of four hundred fifty thousand guilders, and in every town and village there are buildings erected to the worship of the false prophet. While Christianity is not represented by a single missionary, hundreds of Moslems every year make the pilgrimage to Mecca, and return to Sumatra as missionaries of Islam.”

What else can this be but a testimony that some one who knows the Light of life has buried his talent in the earth? Where, among the followers of Jesus, are found the love and zeal for him commensurate with the importance of his gospel? Where, even, the earnestness manifested by the followers of Mohammed?