July Collection for Australasia
By Arthur G. Daniells
AT the meeting of the Executive Committee immediately following the session of the General Conference, the needs of our foreign fields received careful consideration, and appropriations were made, which have already been published. Elder G. A. Irwin, president of the Australasian Union Conference, and Miss E. M. Graham, treasurer, presented in a very definite, satisfactory way the needs of their large and interesting field; and the committee unanimously voted that the July collection be devoted to the Australasian work. We take pleasure, therefore, in calling the attention of our people to the splendid opportunity which will be afforded them of assisting our Australasian work at an important time. For many years the needs of that country have been before us; and, as the result of the good hand of God upon the workers and the funds that have been sent there, we now have at the center of that great island world a strong union conference, which is able to take the general oversight of the various missions of the Pacific islands. By earnest labor and much sacrifice they have established a good publishing house, school, and sanitarium for those mission fields. Our readers have been made familiar with these enterprises through the many appeals that have been sent to them by Sister White. During the past two or three years the struggle in Australasia has been particularly severe. For seven years a most relentless drought has been holding the country within its grasp, and, to quite a degree, has ruined some of its most prosperous sections. The resources of the people have been taken away. The cost of living has become greater; and, naturally, the cost of running the institutions has increased, while the ability to support them has decreased. It is hoped that the drought will soon break up, and that Australia will again flourish as of old; but, dear brethren and sisters, you who are prospered so abundantly in this land of plenty, we call upon you at this time to reach a helping hand across the broad Pacific to your brethren and sisters in adversity in Australasia. That country is very dear to us. We have sent some of our best men, accompanied by many gifts, to build up the work there; and now, in this time of need, we are confident that you will esteem it a great privilege to give them substantial assistance; therefore, let us begin at once to plan for the July collection. Lay aside a little each week, or when the Lord specially blesses you in some item of your business, divide your bounty, and make a gift to the brethren in Australasia which will be a substantial help to them. We make this call with the utmost confidence; for we have never called for a needy land in vain. Your hearts beat with true sympathy for our foreign fields; and we believe, under God's blessing, you will do your best. Also pray for the brethren in Australasia. They have many struggles of which we in this land of prosperity know but little. In so doing, we will render help to them; and the reflex influence of that help will bring joy and rejoicing to our own hearts.