Material for Missionary Work
By Arthur G. Daniells
WE believe that the providence of God has led to the preparation of most excellent material with which to do gospel missionary work this winter. The Capital and Labor number of The Signs of the Times is most timely and appropriate. The present conflict between labor and capital is more than serious; it is truly perilous. The thoroughly organized and powerful forces on each side of this struggle are preparing for a decisive battle of some sort. Just what form the conflict may take, and how terrible the results may be, few enlisted in the conflict fully realize. It is surely one of the plainest signs of the closing hours of human history. It will be from this standpoint that our missionary paper, The Signs of the Times, will present the question. The special number will be ready in a few days. Thousands of copies are being ordered by conferences. We earnestly hope a million copies of this number will be sold. This great campaign will be opened by a two days’ missionary convention in all our churches, November 21 and 22. Special readings have been prepared, and will be sent to the officers of all the churches in time for the convention. The church officers should make much of this convention. Brethren, let us manifest real enthusiasm. I like some of the fiery, whole-souled zeal that I have seen in the Salvation Army in Australia. While we can not indorse all their plans, nor perhaps some features of their methods, we can certainly admire their great zeal and energy. They work as if they believed in what they are doing. We as a people know that we have the message of God for this hour. We know what he wants us to do, and how we should do it. Brethren, we are too stiff and formal. We are too precise and fashionable. Let us unbend. Let us open the flue for the flame to pour out. Do you say that we want more fire before much flame can be seen? Granted. But opening the flues is one way to get the fire. We must do this, or our place will have to be filled with others who will be in earnest. Through the spirit of prophecy the Lord says this:— Anything less than active, earnest service for the Master gives the lie to our profession of faith. . . . We are doing a work in the world, but we are not showing sufficient activity and zeal. If we were more in earnest, men would be convinced of the truth of our message. The tameness and monotony of our service for God repels many souls of a higher class, who need to see a deep, earnest, sanctified zeal. Legal religion will not answer for this age. . . . Those in the service of God must show animation and determination in the work of winning souls.—“Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VI, pages 417, 418.”7 There is now a sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, and we must now bestir ourselves. Here are three steps we must deliberately and perseveringly take: first, read the Bible, the Testimonies, and the reports of missionaries, for zeal; second, pray for zeal; third, bend the will and all its energies in the line of zeal. This done, we shall be filled with zeal. O, may God roll away the reproach of our lukewarmness.