Regions Still Beyond by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1916

Regions Still Beyond

By William Ambrose Spicer

WE have reason for joy and thankfulness as we view the progress of this message wherever the printed page or the living witness has found access. There is no uncertainty about this advent message and movement, as founded upon the living Word of God, and scheduled in rise and progress exactly to the great time-table of divine prophecy. And the same divine hand that launched the movement when the time for it came, manifests itself in power wherever the message is preached. Well may we thank God for the triumphs of the truth at this week of prayer season.

But along with this, we dare not forget for a moment the regions yet beyond us, the vast territories unentered and unwarned, calling to us to “stretch every nerve, and press with vigor on.” We have found no place for rest or self-congratulation. The field is still before us, and everywhere the finger of God’s providence points plainly the open way into practically every unentered region of earth.

Only recently the General Conference Committee had its attention called to one needy field. Some of the facts stated regarding it surely call for earnest prayer. The plea was in behalf of France, and was sent to the Autumn Council of the committee by Elder John Vuilleumier, formerly of Europe, now working in the French field in Canada. Our brother says:—

“France has a population of thirty-eight million people. It is divided into eighty-six departments. Religiously speaking, the population of France may be divided as follows: Sixty per cent Catholics, thirty-seven per cent unbelievers and infidels, three per cent Protestants and Jews.”

Regarding our own work in France the appeal continues:—

“We have at present in France eighteen churches, with three hundred and fifty-seven members, twelve resident workers, and one canvasser. Out of eighty-six departments, twelve or fourteen have been entered. If my estimate is anywhere near correct, we are reaching one half per cent of the whole population within one generation. It is needless to add that at this rate of speed this country will never have the privilege of furnishing its due quota of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. Even supposing that our eighteen churches, located in twelve departments, would be able to finish the work in those departments, who will become responsible for the remaining seventy-four departments? I know of only one way in which this work can be done in the few years remaining, and that is the way followed in the States, in England, in South America, in the Philippines, and elsewhere,—the circulation of the printed page all over the territory. But France has now only one canvasser for her thirty-eight million people.”

After making suggestions regarding the lack of publications to meet the need, Elder Vuilleumier’s plea closes:—

“Just let me say, in conclusion, brethren, that long-neglected, deluded, and persecuted France has very serious rights to our attention and help. A country that has given the world such Christian poets and historians as Racine and Rollin, such moralists and statesmen as Pascal and Coligny, such reformers and apostles as John Calvin and Paul Rabaut; a country that has furnished such an army of martyrs as perhaps no other country on earth can boast of; that has sustained such crushing blows from the Papacy as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and yet manages to keep an honorable place among the nations of the earth,—such a people deserves our sympathy and needs our help.”

“Just now France is passing through a most severe ordeal. In God’s providence, the terrible war is shattering some of her atheism. A favorable movement is discernible among the unbelievers. Rome, of course, is expecting to see her wayward eldest daughter fall down at her feet as she has done so often. And she will do it, no doubt. But all over France are men and women longing for light, and looking to heaven with inexpressible expectation for a religion that will not place in antagonism religion and liberty, faith and reason. Now, just now, is our opportunity.”

The ordering of the work in France rests, of course, with the Latin Union Conference, to which this memorial was ordered sent by the committee. But we quote from it here, not only because of its appeal to earnest prayer in behalf of France, but because this statement brings clearly before us the fact that there is much, very much, unentered territory yet before us, toward which we must strive with all our powers.

W. A. S.