The Price of Victory by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1906

The Price of Victory

By W. A. S.

At the opening of a new year in our missionary advance, we may well look back over the way we have come in 1905, and thank God and take courage. A guiding Providence pressed new workers forth into the fields, new territory was annexed, and the outposts were advanced at every point of the compass.

The world-wide ranks of believers in this third angel's message are being led forward to final victory. We see the word literally fulfilling, “Thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left.” The advance has cost consecrated treasure, representing much love and sacrifice. It has meant hardness endured as good soldiers. With our lives so spread out in the enemy's land, somewhere, always, we know workers are struggling against disease and perils to health and life. Some have had to turn back to get a fresh hold on life. And last year's missionary advance was marked by some new missionary graves, solemn reminders of the stern reality of this conflict.

First to fall in the foreign missionary ranks last year was Dr. Maude Thompson Miller, in far Honan, China. It was a soldier's message that she left us. With eternity before her she bore testimony that life itself is not too great a price to pay for the hastening forward of this work in the darkest corners of the earth.

The life was not laid down in vain, and that mound of earth in Shang-tsai Hsien will ever speak to the Chinese of the love of Jesus that brought her there to minister to them. And possibly by this time two young people from our Australasian school are already sailing for Honan, having determined to respond to Sister Miller's farewell call to our young people to press in to fill up and extend the ranks in China.

GRAVES OF D. A. ROBINSON AND F. W. BROWN, AND OF A LITTLE ORPHAN BOY, KARMATAR, INDIA

Next to fall, stricken with fevers in foreign climes, were two missionaries sent out from Germany. Brother Teschener, a nurse, had but landed in Syria, for service in Jaffa and Jerusalem, when he was called to lay down the armor. Brother Wunderlich, who went out in the second party to German East Africa, aided in erecting the new mission station of the German Union Conference, and then, stricken with death, returned to die in Germany. Thus our brethren in Europe show that in the comradeship of this service they, too, are ready to join us in giving not only means for the missionary advance, but the price that soldiers must ever be ready to pay for victory on the field of conflict.

Though for some time out of the foreign field, Sister E. D. Robinson, who died in South Lancaster, in November, had spent most of her later years in the mission fields. When she laid away her companion, Elder D. A. Robinson, in India, six years ago, she gave him from her heart for stricken India. Who could give a greater gift than that of the life of one most beloved on earth to the missionary cause?

Having made that gift, Sister Robinson could find rest only in spending the remaining strength of her life in pleading India's need. She sleeps in her old home State, Vermont, while Elder Robinson rests under a spreading mahooah, or famine tree, on the school farm at Karmatar. It is a tree whose blossom affords nourishment in time of drought or famine, when other vegetation fails. Though these two servants of God rest from their labors, their lives, given for India, will continue to bring blessing to those who hunger for the bread of life in that land of constant soul famine.

Another name which was often seen in foreign missionary reports a few years ago, that of George R. Drew, of England, must now be written on the roll of those who have finished their course. Brother Drew was the pioneer in ship mission work, and from his post of duty in the great port of Liverpool he sent the literature of this message forth by ships that sailed over every sea. He died at Woking, near London, in October, a worker with the literature to the very last.

We thank God for the testimony of lives laid down in the cause of missions. It is a part of the price of the missionary advance. We grieve for these fellow workers. We feel their loss. But the way in which they poured out the life in service nerves us to fresh endeavor, and determines us to deeper consecration.

While some are giving life and loved ones, it is only reasonable that we should consecrate our lives in service and our means to the cause of God. It will take all we have to buy the field. But it is worth the price to every soul of us to have a part in winning the victories of this advent cause.

We have thought to review the cost in lives of the year's advance in mission fields abroad only. But no less precious were the lives laid down during the year in service on the home field. Among these, Elder D. T. Bourdeau was not only one of the earliest pioneers in the message, but the pioneer missionary in

France as well. Elders C. A. Washburn and N. P. Nelson, veteran leaders in the work, and others whose labors have ended in the home land of the message, leave us the inspiration of lives true and loyal unto the death. It is one field and one service—the third angel's message to all the world.

Blessed the dead who have fallen asleep in the service and hope of this last glorious message. “Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Every grave that marks the way of victory and advance along all these years of pilgrimage and conflict shall but spur us on to greater earnestness in the finishing of the work committed to us.

“For all thy saints who from their labors rest, Who thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blessed, Hallelujah!”

“Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their might, Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight, Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light, Hallelujah!”

“Lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day, The saints triumphant rise in bright array, The King of Glory passes on his way, Hallelujah!”

W. A. S.