Thirteenth Sabbath Offering by William T. Knox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 24, 1914

Thirteenth Sabbath Offering

By William T. Knox

The General Conference has appealed to the Sabbath schools through the department, to devote their offerings for December 26 to the support of the African missions operated by the European Division Conference, this action seeming necessary on account of the great war. Under ordinary conditions the

maintenance of these missions is fully cared for by our brethren in Europe, but with the present situation confronting us, it becomes evident that America must stand ready to lend assistance to the European brethren in this their trying time.

The field to which we are requested to contribute our offerings on December 26 covers a vast territory, comprising within its borders the Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, and Nigeria Missions, in West Africa; the South Pare and Victoria Nyanza Missions, in German East Africa; the British East African Mission, on the Victoria Nyanza; the Abyssinian Mission; and the mission fields of Upper and Lower Egypt and Algeria.

In these various missions there have generally been from fifty to sixty foreign laborers, besides many native workers. The progress reported from time to time has been most encouraging and interesting. While some sections of this vast field have doubtless been deeply affected by the contentions of the nations, yet there is much that can be done if we can keep the laborers in the field and properly supplied with money. Surely we must do this much. No one will be willing to see this work, established with so much labor and expense of life and money, go backward for lack of the means necessary to sustain it. The channels of communication with these distant lands have been seriously interrupted by the war, but all these brethren have been reached, and money sent them, with the possible exception of our brethren in German East Africa, and the General Conference is hoping to discover some method of remitting money to them in the near future.

To us in America the reports coming from the war zone give no indication of the near termination of the war. In fact, the end seems to be as far distant as it did three months ago; but terrible as it is, with the millions of contending hosts, the many thousands of its killed and wounded, the millions in money daily consumed in its support, the work of the world around us is going on much the same as usual. Men continue to buy and sell, to plow and sow, to tear down and build up. The world cannot afford to hold her affairs subject to the termination of even this great war. Much less should the people of God think of withholding their hands in the great work committed to them of giving to the world a message to prepare a people for far more important events than those now taking place in Europe, finding their consummation in the coming of the King of kings.

It is true that more than half the people of the earth are affected by the war, but the Lord can turn even this to the direct benefit of his cause. From the meager reports reaching the General Conference Office from our European brethren, it would seem that the work in many ways is going forward in those countries very encouragingly. It cannot be admitted that our God will permit his work of mercy to be delayed because the nations are angry,—rather the contrary. We are told that “he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” “The end of all things is at hand.” The King’s business demands haste.

During the year now closing, many appeals to the liberality of this people have been made. Their responses have been greatly appreciated by the Mission Board, and by the liberality of the people an increasing work has been carried on; but now once more at the very close of the year, the Mission Board sends out this appeal to the Sabbath schools, hoping that the response will be by far the largest Thirteenth Sabbath Offering ever given.

W. T. KNOX.