Finish the Work by E. W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1907

“Finish the Work”

By E. W. Farnsworth

DELAYS are dangerous. There is pleasure in completing any work we have in hand to do. There is no satisfaction in viewing an unfinished task after the time has passed when it should be accomplished.

For nearly a year we have been trying to finish the work of raising the $150,000 fund. Has the time not come now to close up this account and to finally finish this work? Just one more strong, steady effort will carry us through the campaign, and will enable us to triumph in the accomplishment of our purpose. I have an earnest desire that the Atlantic Union Conference shall complete its part in this work before the close of the conference in Philadelphia, November 14-24. We can do it if we will. These are some of the ways I would suggest to bring about this desirable result:—

1. Let the presidents of the different conferences send letters to all their ministers and churches laying this matter before them and inviting their co-operation.

2. The conference and tract society secretaries should send out kind letters to each church, enclosing a list of pledges where such pledges are still unpaid, inviting them to speedily forward the money.

3. Church elders, librarians, and ministers should labor by personal effort and correspondence to reach all whom they can influence to help finish the work before the date mentioned.

4. Individuals may assist by sending the amount they have pledged to the tract society secretary, and by getting others to do the same. Possibly there may be those who have not yet made any special gift to this fund. Just now is the opportune time for all such to bring their offerings, great and small, that the account may be closed up.

We pray that God may impress every member of the Atlantic Union Conference with his duty in this hour to come to the help of the Lord and to finish this work just now. All will remember the joy and courage brought into the last General Conference by the spontaneous outburst of liberality in finishing the $100,000 fund. Why not repeat that experience at our union conference? Let the response come from every individual, every church, and every conference until the amount in the treasury far exceeds our apportionment of $19,422. We lack only four or five thousand dollars of the full amount; and when this is received, we can sing our song of jubilee.

Come, brethren and sisters, come. Lift once more, lift a little harder, lift a little stronger, and keep lifting until

we can all rejoice in a finished work. Those who have done much may be able to do a little more. Those who have not helped at all should now seize the opportunity.

“Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work.” E. W. FARNSWORTH.