Another Door Opening by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1908

Another Door Opening

By Editor

In connection with the article printed last week in our World Wide Field Department under the title, “Work on the Borders of Abyssinia,” the following editorial paragraph from the June number of the Missionary Review of the World will be of special interest:—

This land [Abyssinia] with its 150,000 square miles, and 3,500,000 inhabitants, has hitherto ranked with Tibet and Afghanistan as inaccessible to all messengers of Christ. Now according to recent reports, King Menelek, who seems to be possessed of not a few excellent qualities of both mind and heart, has partially opened the doors. For some years a Swedish missionary society has been watching and waiting upon the northern border, scattering also copies of the Bible. When one of these was presented to the king, with the request that their introduction be forbidden, he replied: “I have read these books, and they are good; let the people read them, too.” An order has also been issued that all children above seven years of age shall go to school, coupled with the promise to pay the salaries of any competent teachers whom the missionaries may supply.

It is a circumstance whose significance should not be overlooked that whenever an effort is made to spread the third angel’s message in any country, the closed doors are soon opened to the gospel, and facilities for communication are rapidly supplied. So it was in China and Korea, so it has been in Russia, and so it will be in Abyssinia. Our two missionaries recently sent to that country will, we believe, not wait long for entrance.