p. 19 | The Asiatic Division Conference

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1916

The Asiatic Division Conference

By Arthur G. Daniells

A Gospel Opportunity

THE progress of the gospel movement has ever been marked by eventful happenings. National conditions have arisen which, with a proper turn, have given great impetus to evangelical work. World events have made history for God's cause. Crises among men have been turned to greater advantage for soul-saving. The trend of time has shaped openings for the entrance of the gospel. Doors of opportunity for the Christian church in its foreign missionary work are opening wide in nearly all non-Christian lands. Conditions, as never before, are favorable for the evangelization of the people of heathen countries. This means an open mind and a receptive attitude on the part of the people.

Especially is this true of the nations of eastern Asia, of India, Burma, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, and China. Marvelous changes and developments have recently taken place among these peoples. They are seeing a great awakening in every phase of life. A new vision of life has come to them in their contact with Western ideas. Moving out of their beaten tracks of thirty centuries, they are now endeavoring to build on a new foundation.

The present, therefore, is a period of reconstruction. These people are changing their forms of government, their systems of education, their economic and industrial policies, their social relations, and their religion. In rebuilding they are discarding much of the old for the new.

It is this that makes the present the hour of opportunity for God's last message. The most important part of this reconstruction work is the religious,—the turning away from idolatry, with its debasing superstition, to the elevating, uplifting worship of the living God and the Saviour of men. It is the Christian religion that gives Western civilization its excellence, and this is understood to a greater or less degree by these non-Christian peoples. They understand, in some measure at least, that the adoption of Western ideals and standards for a new national life, means the rejection of old religions for the new.

That this situation is the hour of opportunity for Seventh-day Adventists to do great things for Christ and for millions of lost souls for whom he died, has been recognized by us. We are endeavoring to embrace the opportunity, and to this end have taken some steps of far-reaching importance.

The Organization

At the Autumn Council of the General Conference Committee, held at Loma Linda, Cal., Nov. 5-21, 1915, the Asiatic Division in its present form was organized. A memorial addressed to the committee had come from representatives of the vast mission fields of the Far East, asking for an expansion of our foreign mission policy to meet the existing conditions of the fields. Petition was made that a Division organization be created that would give a more direct and efficient administration of affairs in this vast mission territory of immense populations and many large and difficult problems.

The boundary lines of the Asiatic Division are about as follows: Starting at the Persian Gulf, they run north between Persia and Afghanistan to Turkestan; thence east along the northern boundaries of Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, to the international day line in the Pacific; then south and west so as to include Australia and such islands of the Pacific as are under the supervision of the Australasian Union Conference; thence north to the place of beginning. This territory covers a vast stretch of land and sea. Its population numbers upwards of ten hundred millions—two thirds of the human race.

Formation

As the Asiatic Division now stands, it includes what was formerly the smaller division of the same name, also the India Union Mission and the Australasian Union Conference. The general problems of the former Asiatic Division and of India are practically the same. The plans for pushing evangelistic work, for the production and circulation of literature in the many vernaculars, for the education, direction, and support of native workers, are the same throughout these great non-Christian countries. How to break through the wall of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Mohammedanism, is a problem that taxes the wisdom of all alike.

Australasia was included in this Division because of the great help that field would be able to render in giving counsel, and in supplying young people and funds. In a number of ways Australasia is closely attached to the Asiatic world. She and India are both British. Her island field in the west touches the eastern boundary of the former Asiatic Division. Her northern territory skirts the southern boundary of the East Indies. Her problems in carrying the message to the people of her widely extended island mission fields have many things in common with other parts of this new continental Division.

The organic connection of Australasia with the Asiatic Division will be a constant stimulus to its membership to do its utmost for the finishing of the work. This Union Conference has already rendered excellent service by pioneering the East Indies and the Philippine Islands in evangelistic work, in the sale of literature throughout the field, in the gift of funds, and in sending experienced workers to Malaysia, China, Japan, and India. Years ago, when starting our school in Australia, it was pointed out that that field would send workers to other fields. The Union now is in a condition to render far greater service to the vast territory with which it is connected under the new organization, and it is rising splendidly to its opportunity to give help, and responding generously to the calls made on it for men and means.

The Asiatic Division Conference is composed of six Unions, as follows: The Australasian Union Conference, the India Union Mission, the Northeastern Union Mission, the North China Union Mission, the South China Union Mission, and the East India Union Mission.

The Division has its department secretaries and its executive committee. The officers are: President, R. C. Porter; vice-president and secretary, J. E. Fulton; treasurer and auditor, H. W. Barrows.

The departments and respective secretaries are: Publishing, C. E. Weeks; Sabbath School, Mrs. C. N. Woodward; Educational, S. L. Frost; Medical Missionary, A. C. Selmon, M. D.; Missionary Volunteer, S. L. Frost; Home Missionary, H. M. Blunden.

The executive committee is composed of the officers, Union presidents, department secretaries, and two or three conference presidents.

Thus we have effected a strong organization of the work in this vast territory, similar to our organizations of America and Europe. We may confidently expect that what has been done in these other countries through organization and efficiency will be accomplished in the countries of the Asiatic Division.

General Conditions

Nearly all these teeming millions are heathen. They are intensely religious, but they grope in the darkness of superstition and idolatry. To a very large extent they are without education. They are far behind modern civilized life, and their transformation and uplift present a tremendous task. In many respects this is unquestionably the most difficult field in the world to evangelize. But this work must be done, and we have put our hands to the task.

We have already entered the largest and most important divisions of this great field. Though it seems but a small beginning, our work is already beginning to tell. Our cause is deeply rooted and permanently established in all the places we have entered. The number of people in all these countries who have already accepted the message, their consecration to it, and their eagerness to join us in the finishing of the work, are convincing

evidences to us that thousands more in these lands are waiting for the light; and that when the earth is reaped, there will be a great harvest of rejoicing souls redeemed from the terrible heathenism in which these people are now groping. We have abundant assurance of what can be done in soul-winning endeavor among peoples living in darkest heathenism.

A. G. DANIELLS.