In One of the Byways by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 16, 1908

In One of the Byways

By W. A. S.

THE call to the feast is to be sounded not only in the world's highways, but in the byways as well. And what an inspiring spectacle it is to see the message reaching into the uttermost corners of the earth.

Twenty years ago a sister in San Francisco was impressed one Friday to make a special effort to get a lady whom she had met to attend a Sabbath service in the San Francisco church. The lady came and accepted the message. She

was Mrs. Elizabeth Gautereau, formerly of the island of Ruatan, away in the Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Honduras. She wrote her home people of the new-found truths, and later visited them, leaving an interest that led us into that field of the Bay Islands and Central America. Some of her people were in attendance at our recent camp-meeting in Ruatan, rejoicing in the truth.

This Central American region is not populous, and is off the main highway of the world's great movements. But this message of the Lord's soon coming, first sounded there twenty years ago, has accomplished a good work, and has started a movement that has in it the vitality to keep on expanding and enlarging.

That is the characteristic of this message. Not only in the great and populous countries of the world, but in the uttermost regions, there is continual and blessed progress—not because of the many workers or great facilities, but, plainly enough, because here is a truth that must go to all the world, and the special providence of God is giving power and vitality to it.

Here in Central America, where a conference has just been organized, the last year's report of Elder E. L. Cardey, the one ministerial laborer, shows a gain of one hundred seventeen in church-membership, with fifty-eight converts baptized during the year. The tithe increased from $914, in 1906, to $1,261 in 1907; the offerings from $140 in 1906, to $648 in 1907.

These are small figures, for this is a small field, and the resources are limited; but the report is a cheering testimony to the fact that wherever this third angel's message is received, in the byways as well as the highways, there growth and progress are seen.

The work is moving forward everywhere. East or west, north or south, in well-known fields or in regions off the common lines of travel, wherever our eyes turn, we see that this message of the coming of the Lord is rising in the loud cry.

If there be any special message, any hope of the Lord's soon coming, anything of any value in religion, this is the kind of report that must come from all the world to-day. And this is the report that does come to our ears from every side. There is a special message: there is a “blessed hope;” and there is a saving gospel for the world. This sound of the rising message that comes from all the ends of the earth is what we love to hear and listen for as the note rises and mounts higher and higher. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.”

“How blessed are our ears That hear the joyful sound, Which kings and prophets waited for And sought, but never found.

“How blessed are our eyes That see this heavenly light! Prophets and kings desired long But died without the sight.

“The Lord makes bare his arm Through all the earth abroad: Let all nations now behold Their Saviour and their God.”

Let not one true heart falter in the faith that we have reached the time foretold: “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isa. 52:10. W. A. S.