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Help for India

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 5, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 40.

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Help for India

By S. N. HASKELL

To be a co-worker with the Lord is the greatest privilege ever conferred upon mankind. “We then, as workers together with Him.” 2 Cor. 6:1. If we are not co-workers, we have received the grace of God in vain. The apostle then quotes from Isa. 49:8-11. Most wonderful words are addressed to those who co-operate with the Lord in giving light to those who are in darkness. Now is an acceptable time with the Lord; it is a day of salvation for his people. He gives those who co-operate with him as a covenant, to inherit desolate places; to say to the prisoners, Go forth; to those who sit in darkness, Show yourselves. He promises that all such shall neither hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them. He will lead them to the springs of water. The mountains of difficulties will become a path for them; and as a result they will see souls gathered from afar.
This scripture contains wonderful promises for the one who will co-operate with the Lord and be his helping hand in giving the truth to those who sit in darkness.
It is a golden opportunity to move when the Lord moves, to work in harmony with him. There are special seasons and special occasions when God calls upon his people to act; and to act promptly at such times brings great results. No one has a monopoly of God's providences. There is nothing arbitrary in the matter. When we voluntarily accept and consider it a privilege to step into the work of God, then comes the promise: “In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation I have helped thee.” It is the day of salvation; so he says, “I will preserve thee.” Then we can say to the prisoners, “Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.” Then even all the mountains of difficulties will become a way, “and my highways shall be exalted.” Can any one fail to praise God for such a privilege?
Less than three months ago Sister Burgess expressed her desire to enter India and open the work among the eighty million Hindustani-speaking people. But she was informed that there were no funds to open a new mission. The Mission Board can scarcely keep up the present work in India. But among the millions of the Hindustani-speaking people there is not a single Seventh-day Adventist worker. They are an intelligent people; and when some of them personally appealed to Sister Burgess to give them the waters of life also, while she was giving out publications to the Bengali-speaking people, her heart was stirred. She and her husband learned the Hindustani language. She has spent nine years in India, and while many have gone to India and returned with broken health, her health is good; but she came to this country on account of her husband's failing health. His health is improved; and the burden of their hearts is to return to the people of their choice.
They proposed to enter the field as private canvassers and sell twenty thousand copies of the Bible Training School, and earn the money to return. Sister Burgess began to invite her acquaintances to take the paper at the retail price, ten cents each, and give all the profit to India. She found many others anxious to co-operate in the good work. She has visited a few camp-meetings with success. And now in less than three months, thirteen thousand of the “Help for India” Special have been ordered. Donations of from one dollar to one hundred have also come in for the enterprise. Seven thousand more of the Bible Training School are to be sold; and a thousand dollars more is needed to furnish them means to return, build a mission home, and establish the work among the Hindustani-speaking people. They wish to leave in October. A few weeks remain to co-operate with the Lord in this enterprise.
We believe there are many who will gladly take hold of this work, and sell the remaining seven thousand papers, so that Brother and Sister Burgess can soon be on their way, and reach India early in the season, and get their work started before the intense heat comes on.
This work has a threefold blessing in it. There is a blessing to the one who helps. The “Help for India” Special contains the simple truths of the third angel's message, and will be a blessing to those to whom it is sold; and the money received from the sale will send light and blessing to those in darkened India.
This is not to take the place of other enterprises; for it requires only ten cents for one paper, or ten dollars for a hundred. The work will help to carry the light of truth to more people than there are in the United States. Who will help close up this enterprise?
Send all orders to L. G. Burgess, South Lancaster, Mass., or to the Bible Training School, South Lancaster, Mass. In sending orders state plainly that you wish the “Help for India” Special.
S. N. HASKELL.