The Last Reservists Called Out by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 17, 1914

The Last Reservists Called Out

By E. M. Graham

The daily newspapers announce that some of the countries engaged in the great war have called out their last reserves. In one country the schools are closed because the teachers have been called to the war. The safety of the country is considered more important than anything else.

In the Lord’s plans for his people, he has never made provision for there being any reservists. He has always intended that every one of his followers should always be an active soldier. But some of his people do not seem to have understood this, and they have placed themselves in the ranks of the reserves. Jesus foresaw this, and he spoke a parable which foretells the call which is now going through the length and breadth of the land. “And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” Matt. 20: 6, 7.

This eleventh-hour call is designed to call out the last of these reservists, and to give them their last opportunity to enter into the active service which the Lord makes his test of their loyalty to him. Matt. 25: 45.

When the reservists of any country are in a foreign land, a call is sent to them to come to the help of their own country, at any time when they are needed. Should they fail to respond within a given time, they lose forever all the rights of citizenship in their native land. They cannot own property nor inherit it. They are considered to have forfeited all their claims because of their disloyalty.

In the same way the Lord regards the refusal or neglect of his calls by those who profess to be citizens of the heavenly kingdom as disloyalty to him, and a reason why they have no part in that kingdom to which they profess to belong.

These are matters which concern us all, and each one should see where he stands, and whether he has taken his place in the ranks of the active workers. If there are any who have not, are they ready to take the consequences? Does not the love of the Lord call out any response in their hearts?

There are some who are willing, but who do not know what they can do. We call their attention to the home missionary campaign, which has adopted for its winter work three simple plans, which can be followed by almost every member.

The first is a plan of lending tracts. To help in this plan, a set of tracts has been selected. These cover the leading points of truth, and are so arranged as to give the least disputed subjects first. They are put into envelopes all ready for lending. One complete set can be purchased for 25 cents. With one package ten houses can be worked each for ten weeks, provided the tracts are kept clean. The first week, No. 1 envelope is left at a house, and called for the following week, when No. 2 is left in its place, and No. 1 is taken to the next house; and so on, week by week, until all the tracts are in use.

This is a very simple plan, and can be used by the most timid and backward, for the envelopes and tracts do the talking. How many will at once order a 25-cent set of tracts for this plan? It has saved souls in the past, and will in the future.

The second plan is to have every Sabbath keeper, as far as possible, take and use two copies of the Signs of the Times each week. If taken through the church, at club rates, they can be obtained for 60 cents a copy for six months, or $1.20 for a year. This means only a payment of 5 cents a week to the church missionary secretary, a sum which almost every member can manage.

These papers can be sold, given, or lent. A good way to use them is as samples with which to secure subscriptions. A sister in one conference has already secured 137 subscriptions. The papers are full of matter on the present-day issues, the very things in which the people are interested; and so they are easy to sell.

How many who have not already subscribed will do so now? Remember these papers can go where a minister cannot go, and they can do a work he cannot do. Continual evidences are coming in of their value as soul-saving agencies. How many will help to send these papers forth to do their God-appointed work?

Then there is the Berean Library, a set of some of our best books in inexpensive form, for lending, selling, and giving.

No one can say now, “No man hath hired us.” The Lord’s call hires every one, the wages are eternal life, the implements are the literature to be circulated, and other plans for giving the message.

For the first eight weeks of the special campaign with the weekly Signs, subscriptions for 17,605 copies were received, for which we are glad; but what are they among 71,000 believers?—About one copy to four members. With the subscriptions unexpired, the average may be about one copy to two members. We can surely do better than that with a paper that has proved so effective in soul saving. The Holy Spirit is everywhere seeking for channels through which to reach the honest souls that are yet in darkness. Will not many more of our people help to supply this pressing demand by circulating more of these missionary papers? Do not forget that there are no idlers in the vineyard. They are all outside.

E. M. Graham.