Thanksgiving Week by W. J. STONE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 1, 1908

Thanksgiving Week

By W. J. STONE

W. J. STONE

The words “Thanksgiving week” ought to become an every-day topic in the homes of all our people from now until that week closes, Nov. 28, 1908. The last day of that week, ought to be a great day of thanksgiving; and it may be so, if we all engage in this work during Thanksgiving week as we should.

A great blessing may come to our people individually, and to the cause in distant lands, if we will sacredly devote this week to the distribution of the Mission REVIEW and the soliciting of funds from those outside of our denomination. Other denominations, who have much more of this world's goods than we, do this, and receive large sums of money. Why should not we? All the money in this world is the Lord's; and we can have much more than we now have to advance our work, by merely asking for it, and showing the people the great work we are doing to evangelize the world.

The plan briefly outlined by the General Conference Committee is this: A special issue of the REVIEW is to be printed, giving a brief and concise statement of our work in all the world. This number of the REVIEW is to be furnished free to our people, through the State tract societies, and they are to present it to their neighbors, calling their attention to our work in heathen and other lands, asking them if they will not favor us with a donation to assist in this work.

When this subject was presented at our camp-meetings, much interest was manifested in the plan, and the following preambles and resolution were presented, and adopted by nearly every one.

“Whereas, Our foreign mission work has, through the providence of God, assumed large proportions, and has become the leading work of the denomination; and,—

“Whereas, New fields are being rapidly opened for extended work, and necessary means beyond the power of our members to donate for this advance work are immediately required to meet the demands; and,—

“Whereas, This denomination has fully borne the expenses of its foreign work for the past fifty years, without giving the general public an opportunity to assist; and,—

“Whereas, Other denominations have been generously assisted in their foreign work by an appreciative public; therefore,—

“Resolved, That we approve of, and pledge our hearty co-operation in, the plan recommended by the General Conference for an ingathering for foreign mission work, Nov. 22-28 (Thanksgiving week), 1908.”

If our people will enter heartily into this work, it will be the means of bringing into our foreign mission treasury many thousands of dollars, and prove to be the greatest blessing that has ever come to the denomination.

Believing that our brethren and sisters in Indiana will take hold of this work with a will, I have placed a liberal order for the REVIEW, but we hope that we may need twice as many as we have ordered. I am writing to all our churches and asking them to take this matter up at their earliest convenience, and decide, as churches, the number of copies they will distribute.

What a grand opportunity is here offered us of letting our neighbors and friends know what we are doing in the world! Such a missionary opportunity was never before open to our people, and we should hail it with gladness, and put such enthusiasm into this work as has never before been manifested.

We are assured that the paper will not only be excellent in its contents, but that it will be commendable in its mechanical construction, and in every way a credit to our denominational work. All should begin now to plan for this work. It should be our main work during Thanksgiving week. If we take advantage of this grand opportunity, we may make it the supreme missionary effort in the history of our work. Shall we do it?

Indianapolis, Ind.