A Great Forward Movement in Behalf of Foreign Missions
By A. G. DANIELLS
OUR first foreign missionary, Elder J. N. Andrews, sailed out of New York harbor for Switzerland in 1874. From that year until now, our movement in behalf of foreign missions has steadily increased in volume. To-day we have the largest number of missionaries in foreign lands that we have ever had. Last year our contributions to missions was the largest ever recorded in our history. But while our movement has made wonderful growth, the openings for missionary service have multiplied greatly. To-day doors are open in all lands for us to enter. Earnest calls for help come to us from nearly all the mission fields of the world. The situation we face at this time has so appealed to the men in our cause who have been chosen to bear the chief responsibilities in the various conferences, that they have united in a great forward movement in behalf of foreign missions. This movement is expressed by the following preambles and resolutions:— Whereas, The Lord has gone before this people, opening doors in all nations, so that there is opportunity to teach the truths of the third angel's message to all the world; and,— Whereas, We believe that this message is to go to all the world in this generation; and,— Whereas, The funds received by the Mission Board are not sufficient to warrant the enlargement of our missionary operations as the opening providences of God seem to demand; therefore,— 1. Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to endeavor to greatly increase the donations to foreign missions. 2. That we undertake to raise for foreign mission work an amount equal to ten cents a week per capita for our church-membership. 3. That we assume the responsibility of collecting the above specified sum of money in our territory, and forwarding the same month by month to the Mission Board treasury. 4. That in each union and local conference a missionary secretary be appointed, whose work shall be to write articles for the papers, hold public meetings, and to correspond with individuals and churches in helping to raise this large foreign mission donation. 5. That for the present we favor the Sabbath-school donations and the annual and midsummer offerings of each conference being applied on the above fund to make the average of ten cents a week for each church-member. 6. That in each church a person be elected by the church to be known as the missionary secretary, whose duty it shall be to take charge of the distribution and collection of the missionary envelopes, and in every way to encourage the church in systematic giving for foreign missions. Whereas, The Scriptures teach that the tithe is reserved by the Lord for the gospel ministry; and— Whereas, The union and local conferences in the United States recognize the importance of sharing their tithes with the mission fields of the world; and,— Whereas, It is evident from the tithes reported by different conferences that our funds for mission fields would be largely increased if a full tithe were paid by all the members in our conferences; therefore,— Resolved, That we urge each conference in this union to make a most earnest effort to secure the payment of a full tithe in every church; and, further,— Resolved, That a special appeal be made by every conference to the officers of all the churches to give to this matter personal, prayerful attention, until they are assured that every member is paying a true tithe to the cause. These resolutions have been adopted during the last three months by all the union conferences in the United States. In a few instances there has been a slight change in the wording, but the essential features of each resolution have been adopted. And they have been passed with a readiness, a courage, and a determination which means that they will be carried out. The discussion of the reasons for taking such an advance step created the most lively interest. No other question so aroused the delegates as did this in most of the conferences. Presidents of union and local conferences, members of committees, ministers, school men, physicians, and laymen,—all united in giving this proposal the most hearty support, and in giving assurance that the resolutions will be carried out. If these resolutions are carried into effect, the contributions now made by our churches in the United States will be doubled. This will mean a wonderful strengthening of our forces in the regions beyond. Surely the hearts of our missionaries in all lands will be cheered by this announcement. And the joy and courage of all our people will be increased: for7all are anxious to have the third angel's message proclaimed to all nations, and to see the work of God finished. Next week we shall explain the meaning and the scope of the resolutions more fully. Our ministers and church elders should preserve these resolutions for study and reference in presenting the plan to the churches.