The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 31, 1882

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

The Work Before Us.

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

The more we become acquainted with the progress which the truth has made among the different nations, the more fully we are convinced that, as a people, we have never realized the importance or magnitude of our tract and missionary work. There can be no doubt that God's special providence was in the framing of the Constitution of the United States Government in America. It would seem that the settlement of the new world was in direct reference to the work God designed should be accomplished by the third angel's message. The character of the laws enacted by this nation, the freedom of speech it allows to all within its limits, its vast tracts of unsettled territory all ready to be converted into peaceful homes by all wishing to avail themselves of the opportunity,—all contribute to make this nation one of great importance as a vast missionary field in the closing work of the gospel. The truth can here be presented to people of every nation and tribe upon the earth. If our brethren in the United States are faithful to their trust, they will take the lead in the missionary work, and great results will be seen.

God has seen fit to give his people in this country greater light than those of other countries, in connecting with them the spirit of prophecy. This gives a right mould to the work; without it we should become formal and like the denominations around us. We cannot neglect it without suffering a great loss in the same direction. We are a peculiar people, having a special work to perform in the world; and since those living in the United States of America have advantages in this respect which are far in advance of others, God will hold them responsible for giving a right mould to the work in other parts of the wide harvest field.

Europe contains many millions of souls just as precious in God's sight as any who live in America. But the unyielding customs and national prejudices of the people prevent that moulding of the mind which is necessary in order to give correct individual experiences. For this cause the reforms which are carried on in Europe are national, not allowing private individuals to act freely and independently. In Germany the law compelling all parents to give their children an education is more strict than the educational laws in America. There are in Germany thirty-five million Protestants who speak the German language, and, as a people, they can read and write. Holland, one of the smallest of the European nations, contains two million and four hundred thousand Protestants, and it is estimated that not less than five thousand of these have some knowledge of the English language. France also has seven hundred and forty thousand Protestants. The Scandinavian countries in comparison with other European nations, present a favorable field for labor. The four hundred believers who, in these countries, embraced the truth during the last few years, give evidence of this fact. This is saying nothing of other nations on the continent, and nothing also of England, New Zealand, and Australia, where the people speak our language. Now the question arises, Will these nations be passed by without any knowledge of present truth? Has God selected those nations more favorably situated, to the exclusion of the rest? We cannot believe this to be true. In some manner he will call their attention to these truths which he has given for the last days.

The foreign population in America presents an open door to every nationality in the world. The truth should be brought before those who have come to this country from other nations; and, as they embrace the truth, they should be educated to engage in the missionary work among their countrymen in Europe. Publications should be scattered like leaves of autumn, in Europe as well as in America. The attention of the people must be called to the truth. The fact that periodicals are far superior to denominational tracts for introducing the truth in any part of the world is constantly demonstrated by what we see of the result of their distribution. First, tracts are too common. Every denominational missionary society is engaged in distributing this kind of reading matter. Second, the variety of matter contained in a periodical will be far more likely to arrest the attention of the general reader than the best written tract in the world. Very many facts might be given to show that the distribution of periodicals prepares the way for the sale of other publications.

We are fully convinced that no mission in Europe, if it does what it ought to do, can be self-supporting. Men receiving but from three to four dollars per week for their labor, after paying one-tenth to the Lord, one-sixth for house rent, and supporting a family of from two to six upon what remains, will not have much left with which to send the truth to others. The expense of living in Europe, with the exception of clothing, is about the same as in America. Able-bodied girls command from $15 to $25 per year, with board.

Les Signes des Temps has an issue of forty-five hundred copies per month, and this should be increased to ten thousand copies. Then, the reading element among the German population in Europe would require, to establish the same proportion, the distribution of a German paper one-third larger than that of the French periodical. Periodicals in other languages should be issued occasionally, and sent to those parts of the civilized world where these languages are spoken. They could be issued much cheaper in the countries where they are distributed than in America and then sent to these countries. Matter contained in tracts and in other forms, which we now have on hand, might be used in periodicals for this purpose; and one person possessing good native ability, and an experienced American who has gained an experience in one of our offices, could manage such a paper, so that the expense might be very small. In this way, the truth might in a few short months be brought before tens of thousands of people.

God's Spirit is stirring up the minds of many on the Sabbath question. Individuals and companies who have never heard of our people, are embracing it in Europe. There is a simple conscientiousness with those who are thus led out to take their stand, which is very pleasing; but they need instruction from those of experience, to whom God has intrusted his truth and many advantages. Without this instruction they are liable to fall into erroneous views which bring confusion and ruin. This shows the necessity of following up the distribution of our publications with a proper correspondence. When this is done, persons are led step by step into all the truth, and they become light-bearers to others. I might mention many instances which have come to my knowledge since I have been to Europe, which prove this to be true. God has in this direction intrusted a work to his people for them to perform, which neither angels nor any other instrumentality can accomplish in their stead.

It was the Spirit of God that convicted Saul of his wicked course, but Ananias baptized, and further instructed him, by this means giving him a mould which made him a man of usefulness in the service of God. If there is any feature of the missionary work in which there is great utility, it is in the sending out of our periodicals, and corresponding with individuals. The ministry comes first in the work of God, and the work of the faithful colporteur second, yet both of these together cannot of themselves exert so extensive an influence, at so trifling an expense, as can be done by sending out our publications in the manner we have described.

Sweden contains one hundred and fifty Seventh-day Adventists to-day. They are scattered more or less all over the kingdom, but wherever found, it was the distribution of reading matter which first awakened an interest in the truth. But there are individuals in Sweden of perverse minds, who have gone there to labor, and we have every reason to believe that the devil has sent them to destroy souls. They are hunting up those who have become interested in the truth, and announcing themselves as the two witnesses of Revelation, and advocating other equally absurd ideas. These persons are Sabbath-keepers, but of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the faith. A correspondence with those who have embraced the truth, by our brethren who first brought it to their knowledge, would in most cases save them from such influences.

The principle of the working of our Vigilant Missionary Societies is correct. There should be one hundred such societies where now there is but one. Men and women who hold the precious truths of God's word sacred, and whose hearts are warm with its love, should engage in this work. A great work is before us. The closing scenes of this world's history are upon us, and what are we doing as a people in comparison with what we should do to give to others the light that God has given us, is an important question, and one that we shall meet in the day of reckoning. To many God has given great talent in this direction, and to some an experience which has qualified them to accomplish much good. If they neglect to put their talents to usury in this direction, they will not only fail to accomplish what God would have them, but bring perplexity upon themselves, and find in the day of Judgment that they have met with a great loss.

Here is a field of usefulness which thousands can enter, who cannot leave their homes; but great care and caution should characterize the letters written. The help of God is as much needed as in any other part of the Lord's work. Letters should seldom be doctrinal, but they should breathe the spirit of true piety and a deep Christian experience. If we realize the worth of souls, and have the love of Christ in the heart, such correspondence will be the means of communicating the light of truth to thousands who now sit in darkness.