All for Service by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jun 23, 1904

All for Service

By W. A. S.

A Lesson for Our July Missionary Offering

WHEN the war broke out in the far East, the people of Japan felt that they were fighting for their very existence as a nation. It was to be a life or death struggle, in their estimation. As the strong and disciplined youth and men of Japan sprang to arms, ready to go to the battle front, those who remained at home prepared to stand by their comrades in arms in a very practical way.

As the calls came for funds with which to press the campaign, the rich and the poor joined in gifts to the nation's treasury. They knew that thus they, as actually as the soldiers on the firing line, were striking blows for their own and their country's cause. Thus it has come about as a Portland (Ore.) paper says:—

It is now accounted a disgrace for any Japanese of any class to retain any articles of gold. All has been sent to the treasury to be converted into coin for the emperor.

It is all so very real to these people. A real conflict is on. They read the dispatches from the front. Loved ones, friends, comrades, are falling on the field. It is their cause, and it is to decide their place among the nations, and influence their prospects in life. Not an idle asset must be held to. Every resource must be turned to account. While comrades and loved ones are risking life and all in facing the enemy, it is little enough that they can do to turn every resource at their command to account in making up the war fund. They expect the demands to increase, the further their forces press the battle.

Just as really have we a conflict on our hands. The issue of the conflict we know must be victory, but none the less it is a life or death struggle for every soul of us. Our work, our existence as a people of God to bear the last warning to the world, our own eternal destiny, are being decided upon the missionary battle-field to-day. Every soul has his place, either in the mission field at home or abroad, or as one to stay by the stuff and send the resources to the field. Those Japanese have made of their country's cause a religion. They lay down life for it; they convert into coin every unnecessary treasure they may have. There surely is a lesson for us in the devotion of the children of this world to the cause that represents to them the heart's highest interests. When men and women so do in the service of earthly king and country, what ought not the children of light to be doing for their King and the heavenly country?

Depend upon it, the one who doesn't like to hear calls for missions would not like to be in the thick of the battle. And he who is not heart and soul in the holy conflict to-day has lost something out of his life that must be quickly found again if he would share in the victory so near at hand. W. A. S.