Washington, D. C by J. S. Washburn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1904

Washington, D. C.

By J. S. Washburn

WE are receiving in response to the appeals for means to establish the headquarters of our work in this city, many letters that reveal the fact that the Spirit of God has deeply impressed the hearts of our people with the thought that this present move means the beginning of the end, the closing of the great work of God in the earth. I have been deeply touched by many of the letters of those in limited circumstances, who send their contributions fragrant with sympathy and prayer for the great work. I have thought that many of the readers of the REVIEW would be deeply interested in these letters, and I take the liberty to publish a part of a letter just received from the elder of the church in Hamilton, Mont.

“J. S. Washburn, “Washington, D. C.

“DEAR BROTHER: I write you at present to assure you of our interest in the work at Washington. We (the Hamilton church) are not able to respond to the appeal for the one hundred thousand dollar fund to any great extent; and as we are all dependent on farming for means, we thought it best to send our contributions later, so as to do our best.

“We are deeply impressed that this is the beginning of the end, and we can not afford to miss giving until we feel it, to such an all-important movement.

“We realize that the upper chamber is in process of erection, as it were, where the outpouring of the latter rain may soon be expected. I venture the prediction that the word will have to go to the friends of the message that “the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work,” for “thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” There is surely a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees. The Lord is stirring up his people to give with willing hearts. I am rejoicing over the fact that we can see the actual gleams of the golden morning. I pray for the success of the work at Washington.

“I again assure you that we have a heartfelt interest in the work, and you can count on our doing to the full extent of our ability in means or in any service we are capable of rendering in any way.

“With kindest wishes, I am “Your brother in the message.”

We can not express the help that comes with these messages in the knowledge that God himself is stirring up the hearts of the loyal soldiers of the great cause to support the work by their prayers and by their means. O that there may come to every one who has ability to give large or small contributions, the spirit to help to the full extent of his ability!

We publish on page 20 a further list of donations to this work. One ninth of the whole amount has been raised, and the number of contributions that are flowing in is largely increasing; and yet, unless there are donations of one thousand dollars or more, it will be a long time before the work will be finished. We are hoping to be able to head our next list with a donation of at least one thousand dollars. We believe that there are at least one hundred persons in our denomination who could easily give that amount. We feel assured that with the reading of these words there comes to some one a strong conviction from the Spirit of God, impressing him to make a liberal donation at once. We are meeting constant perplexities and difficulties that seem to retard the work, but we believe that God permits delay only that the means may be raised for the work more rapidly than they are expended. There ought to be at least twenty-five thousand dollars raised during the next four weeks, that the real work of building may be practically begun. If the spirit which possessed the church of God in the days of Pentecost were but received to-day by our people, this whole amount, yes, and many times this amount, could be raised in a single day.

We do not ask these donations simply because they are needed here. Those who have the privilege of giving are invited to invest in that, which is the only safe investment on earth to-day. The means will be used to build the only lifeboat that shall safely outride the last terrific storm when the world shall sink in utter shipwreck. Who will invest his God-given means in a winning enterprise; yes, truly, the only winning enterprise in all the world to-day?

J. S. WASHBURN.