What Dollars Will Do in China by T. E. BOWEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 6, 1909

What Dollars Will Do in China

By T. E. BOWEN

T. E. BOWEN

The Takoma Park Sabbath-school superintendent wrote on the blackboard, “One dollar a day for missions! Can we do it?” the first Sabbath in April. So far the school has more than answered this question in the affirmative.

The second Sabbath after this motto was placed on the board, Dr. A. C. Selmon, who recently returned from China, spoke to the church on the needs of that great field, and his eye catching the “dollar a day for missions,” he jotted down a few items as to what this amount, invested in the third angel’s message in China just now, would accomplish. Having access to these figures, we pass them on for others to think over.

“Three hundred sixty-five dollars would fit up two dispensaries in China, where hundreds of cases of sore eyes, ulcers, malaria, skin diseases, etc., could be treated and cured. Also at these dispensaries, as is the case in each of the ones now being operated, fifty to one hundred lives could be saved annually from suicide graves; and, besides, thousands of pages of literature could be distributed; gospel talks unlimited be given.

“Three hundred sixty-five dollars would support for one year fifteen Chinese Bible women, who could visit in the non-Christian homes. These workers never fail to have a good company of women and girls to listen to the gospel.

“Three hundred sixty-five dollars will support for one year, in one of our boarding-schools, twenty-three boys or girls, children of Sabbath-keepers.

“Three hundred sixty-five dollars, exclusive of the building site, would build and equip a boarding-school, where these twenty-three boys or girls could be taught and trained as workers to give the message to their own people.”

All the above is estimated upon conditions found in interior China, where buildings and wages and living expenses are less than in the large cities of the coast region.

These facts place before us, in a very practical and definite way, what the investment of a little money would accomplish in this needy field. Likely, equally remarkable results might be cited of what the same investment would accomplish in other needy mission fields. Then think of the compounding rate of interest that would go on as the result of such a deposit. Would it pay? Christ answers: “Some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”

Takoma Park. D. C.