A World-Wide Message

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1905

A World-Wide Message

In the early days when believers were few and resources were very limited, the leaders in this advent movement firmly believed, and unhesitatingly declared, that the message which they were proclaiming was to be given to all the world. Their only, and their sufficient evidence for this position was the statements of the prophetic Word. In this conference are gathered witnesses to the fact that this message has been planted in all the leading countries of the world and in many islands of the sea. Although there is yet to be done in this generation a work which seems impossible when looked at from a merely human standpoint, yet those who attended the first General Conference in 1863 and have been spared to attend this thirty-sixth session of the conference then organized, are now permitted to see concrete evidence of what was then to them purely a matter of faith. And those of us who have come into the work later may share with them in the satisfaction and the assurance arising from these tokens of progress. But the same faith and zeal which have brought the message to this degree of development are still needed, and in an increasing measure. Some great countries have merely been entered, and are still unworked. Many millions have never heard of this message. There is a great work to be done and the time is short. “Our watchword is to be, Onward, ever onward. The angels of God will go before us to prepare the way. Our burden for the ‘regions beyond’ can never be laid down until the whole earth shall be lightened with the glory of the Lord.” “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.” In the plans for the distribution of laborers and means, and in determining the general policy for the future it should be remembered that this is a world-wide message, and that it will not be finished anywhere until it is finished everywhere. The Spirit of power is needed for a world-wide work.