The Midsummer Offering

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 21, 1906

The Midsummer Offering

Suggestive Paragraphs by Various Writers

Have You Heard the Call?

As Dr. Barnardo, of London, the great philanthropist, was once standing in his front door on a bitter day in winter, a little ragged boy came up to him and asked for an order of admission into his house. To test the boy, he pretended to be rather rough with him. “How do I know,” he said, “if what you tell me is true? Have you any friends to speak for you?” “Friends,” the little fellow shouted. “No, I ain’t got no friends; but if these ’ere rags”—and he waved his arms about as he spoke—“don’t speak for me, then nothing else will.” So it is to-day. The great need of a perishing world, dying under its load of sin, and ignorant of the saving power of Christ, appeals to us for help.

God calls on us to-day to let our lives prove the truth of the message he has committed to our care to bear to the world. Shall one cry of despair pass unheard? Shall one appeal for help go unanswered? Shall the soul hungering for the “bread of life” be turned from our door as was Lazarus from the palace of Dives? “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.” As God’s message for to-day is the grandest that was ever committed to men, so man’s need is the greatest that was ever known since sin entered this world. To the ancient seers it was given to bear many messages of love and reproof from God to the people; to John it was given to prepare the way of the Lord, as the sinner’s friend; the more joyous lot of the apostles was to declare his triumphant victory over death and the grave, but to us it is given to declare thrice glorious and most precious message of the Saviour’s soon return, and the consummation of the Christian’s hope. O brother, sister! does God’s approving smile rest upon us as he views our work at the close of each day, or must he sadly turn from us as from Jerusalem of old? May our money and our time be consecrated to this glorious work now, once for all, that we may hasten our Master’s coming. WM. GUTHRIE.

Our Present Duty

It is not by mere chance that this people has an existence. We are called forth from the world in response to prophecy to accomplish a definite work. Our mission is as extensive as this world that we inhabit. We must proclaim the everlasting gospel in this generation to every creature under heaven.

Each succeeding year the message has increased in magnitude, and missionaries are being located in the dark places of the earth. Macedonian calls are coming from land and sea, and we as a denomination are forced to respond to these calls, or else be recreant to duty. It is the demand of the hour, and we must, as a people, show our faith by our works. Not only should men be supplied for the needy fields, but means should also be furnished for their support. The laborers are worthy of their hire, and as this denomination hires them, upon it rests the responsibility of their support.

As the midsummer offering is for the extension of our missionary work, shall we not give liberally of our means for the spread of the truth? Every Sabbath-keeper should do his duty at this time. E. T. RUSSELL.

An Index to Our Faith

The time for the midsummer offering to missions is fast drawing on, and who is there in the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists who does not look forward to this date with pleasure? God calls for his people to arise and finish the work. The offerings of that day will be an index to our faith in the finishing of the work in this generation.

We can see in the movements of nations and the devastations of earth that the words of the prophet are true, and soon the work committed to this people will be ended. Every true believer in the second advent will be more interested in spreading the third angel’s message, and thus hastening the coming of the King, than in any earthly pursuit. If we find no desire in our hearts to help in forwarding the cause of God with our means, it is because this world has more attraction than the kingdom to come. God makes it easy for the true believer in the third angel’s message to give to his cause, for his promises are painted in colors that glitter. Every dark corner of this earth not yet entered is a witness against us. S. E. WIGHT.

Days of Privilege

Of all the years that have passed in the giving of this last message, and of all the burdens and responsibilities that have been borne by the Seventh-day Adventist

people, the days in which we live are the grandest, the most momentous; the burdens the heaviest, though fraught with the greatest victories; the responsibilities more sacred, made so by the magnitude of the work and the short time we have to finish it.

We have reached a time in our work when we should have hearts of steel so far as the sophistries of men are concerned, but as tender as an infant toward this great work and its workers. So, beloved, let us who enjoy the blessings of this fair West come behind in no gift that will hasten the coming of our King, and put an end to sin. June 30 is the time set for the midsummer offering for foreign laborers. Let us give liberally of our means for their support. The Mission Board has this in hand, you may say; but we are the Mission Board, and the men we have chosen to act for us can only do as we place means in their hands to do with. Let us give them a plenty on June 30. G. F. WATSON.

Help Now

We can labor personally for those around us by sacrificing a portion of our time; and those of us who find pleasure in so doing, would labor for others in distant fields could we reach them personally; but as hindering causes prevent, we can aid those who can and will go if means are furnished them. The means raised during the last thirty-six years to open up our work have been abundantly blessed of the Lord, and a vast amount of good has already been accomplished, but not one-hundredth part has been done compared with what we shall yet see.

It cost but a few hundred dollars to place our first missionary worker, Brother J. N. Andrews, in a distant field in 1874. Those who gave then, now look back to it with pleasure. Many faithful servants of the Heavenly King have been giving ever since, and as the result, hundreds are now laboring in all parts of the world, in dreary deserts and crowded cities. It annually consumes thousands of dollars to support our missionaries in all the various lands. The sun never sets on our workers, for they have encircled the world. The support of these numerous workers devolves largely upon those in this home field. We are living in the garden spot of the world for prosperity. The Lord has greatly blessed this country; work is plenty, and the worker is well paid for his investment of time, and thus all who work have some money.

The regular semiannual collection for our missionary work in the fields beyond will be taken Sabbath, June 30. Shall we not give liberally this month? Two classes will finally share in the reward,—those who have carried the message, and those who have furnished the means that it might be carried,—and both classes will rejoice to see souls eternally saved by the Master, through the efforts of the messenger and those who supported him. S. H. LANE.