The Call of God to Our People at This Time
By Arthur G. Daniells
ONE of the special and exceedingly helpful features of the cause of the third angel’s message in the early days of its history was the deep, personal interest manifested by all its followers in all that pertained to its advancement. The laymen as well as the ministers, and the women as well as the men, studied the truths of the message, read the papers and books that were printed, and planned together with the deepest interest for the wide and rapid extension of the cause. Every one identified with the movement had its welfare and growth at heart. This led to active service and continual sacrifice by all the believers. The results of all this were most gratifying; the hearts of the brethren and sisters were made continually to rejoice, and the cause prospered and grew. The personal, individual interest felt by our people in behalf of this cause in its early days must be manifested by all who are identified with the movement until it has fully accomplished its purpose. This is of more value than either money or numbers. With this the cause is sure to triumph. Without it the movement must fail. In searching for the causes of the6warm interest the first believers in this message felt for its prosperity, it is easy to see that one of them was the policy of the leaders to make all the people well acquainted with the plans that should be adopted to carry the work forward. The plans were discussed in general councils, and fully and frequently presented to all the people through the papers and by special messages. This laid the burden and responsibility of the whole cause on the hearts of all the people. Our strong confidence in this way of doing has led the officers of the General Conference to state and restate as publicly and widely as possible every detail of the plans for the removal of our denominational headquarters from Battle Creek to Washington, and the development of plans at the new headquarters. We have availed ourselves of every good opportunity we have seen to counsel with our people and secure their advice. We have also published as widely as we have known how every important plan laid and step taken to carry into effect the counsel and instruction we have received. We are more grateful than we can express that we now have the presence and counsel of Sister White while we lay the foundation of our work at Washington. We do not want to make serious mistakes that it will take years to undo. Time is too short, money and energy are too precious, for this. We need the same divine guidance to-day that Israel needed when they were commanded to build the sanctuary in the wilderness, and later the temple at Jerusalem. It is our privilege to have it, and praise God, we are receiving it. We were not left in our weakness and ignorance to determine finally where we should locate. The Lord sent definite and positive instruction through his servant to help us in our perplexity and give us assurance. Neither have we been left to ourselves to determine how the work should be started and carried forward in Washington. The same definite instruction that assured us that we should locate at Washington tells us how the work should be started. The plan outlined by the spirit of prophecy is altogether different from any conceptions the committee had in mind. But we recognize the wisdom of the Lord’s plans, and cheerfully adopt them. We earnestly desire that all our people shall fully understand and appreciate this point. So far as we know, our plans for building are not exceeding nor varying in the least from the plain instruction given to us in the written Testimonies. We are determined to follow this counsel to the letter. This is the only consistent course to take as long as we profess the confidence we do in the source of this counsel. What else could Moses and Aaron, and the leaders, and all the people of Israel do but heed the instruction given? Faithful and prompt obedience was both their joy and their safety. Their response was so hearty and prompt that before the sanctuary was completed, it was necessary for those who had charge of the work to send word to all the people that they had given an abundance for that purpose, and to bring no more gifts for the building. What a blessed experience for Israel! and what a glorious example for the church in all subsequent time! The work of God was loyally supported by his people, and no dark clouds of debt could overshadowed it. This may be both the experience and the example of God’s people to-day. We praise God that up to this hour this is our experience so far in the establishment of our headquarters in Washington. The spirit of prophecy has repeatedly pointed out that the purchase of the Memorial church was a necessary step in making that city our headquarters. At the dedication of the church, Sabbath, May 7, the trustees handed over the deed to the General Conference Corporation without a cent of indebtedness against the property. During the year 1903 and thus far in 1904 the brethren and sisters from all parts of the field cheerfully sent in gifts until they are now told that there is enough. The surplus in hand after paying all bills was turned over, with the deed, to be applied on the Washington fund. This is a remarkable record. The hand of the Lord is in it. Somehow this experience gives us assurance that a new era has dawned upon this cause, and that what has been done for the Washington church is an indication of what will be done in establishing the enterprises there that we are instructed to build up. Indeed, may it not be a foreshadowing of our future experience as a people everywhere? God grant it. We have groaned long enough under the crushing burden of debt. So far in the removal to Washington and the purchase of land, we have received from the hands of our dear people enough to meet all expenses. The scenes presented to Sister White lead her to urge us to press this work forward with all possible haste. She says we have not come here a day too soon, and that there must be no delay. We are studying the wisest economy, that no greater burden may be placed upon our brethren and sisters than the Lord sees they can bear. We shall not presume upon their liberality, nor abuse the trust reposed in us. We shall follow the counsel given to build plainly, yet substantially. But, economize as we may, it will take one hundred thousand dollars to start the work as we should. This is the amount named by a large company of leading brethren who attended the Washington Council last October. The amount seems great, yet when we think of seventy-five thousand loyal, liberal believers in this cause who have been signally blessed and prospered by the good hand of our God these many years, we are certain this entire amount can be given during 1904, so that the work need not be delayed, nor a single dollar of indebtedness incurred. There are ten thousand persons identified with this cause whom God has so abundantly blessed with means that they could contribute one hundred thousand dollars to the Washington work without doing themselves or any one an injustice. Is the following estimate unreasonable? |
|
|
|---|
| 25 persons donate |
$1,000 each |
$25,000 |
| 50 " " |
500 " |
25,000 |
| 100 " " |
100 " |
10,000 |
| 200 " " |
50 " |
10,000 |
| 400 " " |
25 " |
10,000 |
| 1,000 " " |
10 " |
10,000 |
| 1,500 " " |
5 " |
7,500 |
| 2,500 " " |
1 " |
2,500 |
| 5,775 |
|
$100,000 |
According to this estimate of the ability of our people,—an estimate which I believe all our brethren will agree is reasonable,—ten thousand persons could easily provide the amount required. If all our people could see the situation in all its bearings, as it has been presented to Sister White, and as those who are on the ground see it, the required sum would quickly be met. But many who are well able to give may not be sufficiently impressed by what shall be written to respond. We ought to have at least twenty-five one-thousand-dollar donations, and fifty five-hundred-dollar gifts. That will provide one half of the full amount, and make the raising of the remainder quite reasonable and certain. We are praying for this. Our faith lays hold of it. We rejoice more than we can express over the four one-thousand-dollar offerings that have come to us. If our brethren of means could witness the joy that is felt at headquarters on receipt of these gifts, they would know that these are not empty words. Brother Washburn, who has been chosen by the General Conference Committee to bear the special and wearing burden of raising this money, is working early and late, believing that the God of Israel will move on the hearts of his people to offer willingly for this work. He believes that many who read the reports and appeals sent out will be impressed by the Spirit of God to give, and that they will not refuse to obey their convictions. May we not ask all who are in harmony with this important move to unite with us in prayer for the needed funds? And let every one be true to his personal convictions.