Twenty-five Years by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1916

Twenty-five Years

By W. A. S.

GOING through some old papers, evidently, Brother C. C. Crisler, of California, came across the program of study of the foreign fields presented in the Home Missionary just twenty-five years ago. He sends us a few pages torn from the old number, writing on the margin as follows:—

“Here is the China symposium as arranged a quarter of a century ago. Not a line could be given of our work in China save that of our duty to become acquainted with the field in order that we might intelligently spread its needs before the Lord in prayer.”

Twenty-five years ago the foreign department in the above periodical corresponded to the Second Sabbath Reading. Concerning the proposed review of the fields, month by month, it was then declared:—

“We want to get so acquainted with the great fields that we can spread their needs before the Lord in prayer, as Hezekiah spread out Rab-shakeh’s letter in the temple.”

It is encouraging to look back to that milestone of twenty-five years ago, and consider how the work has spread under the blessing of the Lord during these swiftly passing years. Then, never a word could be said of our work in China. But we know the brethren and sisters were praying for that great field. In the program of study at that time was printed Dr. Guinness’s trumpet call for China’s millions, two stanzas of which are as follows:—

“O church of the living God, Awake from thy sinful sleep! Dost thou not hear yon awful cry Still sounding o’er the deep? Is it naught that one out of every three, Of all the human race, Should in China die, having never heard The gospel of God’s grace? Canst thou shut thine ear to the awful sound, The voice of thy brother’s blood? A million a month in China Are dying without God!”

“O speak not of the noble few Who the gospel sickle wield, And reap some sheaves with weary hand On the edge of the harvest field; For beyond their utmost efforts Four hundred millions lie, And a thousand preachers were all too few To reach them ere they die. But hear, O, hear ye for yourselves The voice of your brother’s blood! A million a month in China Are dying without God!”

As we read the appeals of twenty-five years ago, thank God we do not now find ourselves related to China in just the same way. Today we have among China’s millions a membership of nearly two thousand, with over three hundred and fifty workers, Chinese and foreign, engaged in the service, with publications spreading through the field by many thousands each month. Pitifully small this little force is as compared with the vast field; but still we thank God for the change that has come. We are there, in the midst of China’s needs.

Twenty-five years has indeed made a difference in the scope of our mission work. At the week of prayer season twenty-five years ago we were hearing of the first voyage of the “Pitcairn.” Elder I. J. Hankins was the one minister in South Africa; and it was stated that three canvassers had doubtless just begun work in South America. This year South America was organized as a division conference, with a membership of 4,903. Appeal was made that week of prayer for funds to help Europe in starting institute work for the training of laborers. Today the European Division lists its gospel laborers as numbering 1,253.

Twenty-five years ago our total membership in all the world was 31,665. A number equivalent to more than half of that total membership were baptized into the faith of this message last year. Then, the membership in lands outside of the United States was 3,427. Today, the membership outside this country is 59,144.

One other item witnessing to increased activity in missions may well be noted. In 1891, the total funds for missions were $61,325. Last year, the report shows $872,667 contributed by all our fields for mission work in the regions beyond.

Notwithstanding the great work before us, we may well thank God and take courage for yet more earnest service as we see how rapidly the Lord is leading the forces on.

W. A. S.