The Call of the Hour by A. T. ROBINSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1905

The Call of the Hour

By A. T. ROBINSON

Brief Messages From Conference Presidents

The Issue Pressed Upon Us

NEVER before in its history has this country been blessed with more abundant harvests than is the case this year. Surely nature, with lavish hand, has been bestowing her best gifts in nearly every part of the land. The growing and ripening fields of grain have been graciously protected from damaging frosts and destructive storms, while in many parts of the country the farmer smiles through the copious autumn showers, foreshadowing next year's harvest.

How fitting, at the close of such a season, that a special time be set apart to express our gratitude to Him who gives us “rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” How fitting that our expressions of gratitude should be accompanied with free-will offerings. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?”

The next occasion for making special offerings to the foreign mission work will be during the “week of prayer.” It is none too early now to begin to think and plan for the occasion. That which we think the most about comes to be of the most importance to us.

Think of the hundreds of workers who love home and native land just as much as we do, who have responded to the Master's call, and are laboring in distant parts of the earth. Think of the open doors, from which has been heard repeatedly the “Macedonian cry,” and of the Mission Board, which was compelled to refuse so many of these calls during 1905. Think of the millions of honest souls, nigh and afar, whose ears have never yet heard the sound of this blessed message. Think of the fact that sixty-one years of the generation that is to witness the accomplishment of this work are already in the past. Think of these things, dear brethren and sisters. Make them the theme of conversation in the home. Make them the subject of special mention, frequently, at the season of family worship. Let earnest prayers be offered that the Holy Spirit may revive the true missionary spirit in the hearts of all our people, prompting them to make liberal offerings.

This matter is worthy of our highest and best thought. If we will give it the attention it deserves, the coming week of prayer will prove the richest season of blessing ever experienced in the homes of this people. The hearts of all who participate in this movement will be drawn closer to Him who gave himself and all he possessed, “to seek and to save that which was lost.” The hearts of our youth and children will be bound to this message in ties that all the fascinating charms and allurements of this world can not sever.

Let me, in the name of the blessed Master, appeal to our dear people to make the coming week of prayer a glad “surprise” in our homes, to the Mission Board, to our laborers in far-away lands, to those who are longing to go to foreign fields, and through them to many hungering souls who are waiting, amid the moral darkness with which they are surrounded, for the light of the third angel's message to shine upon them.

A. T. ROBINSON, of Nebraska.