Our World-Wide Testimony Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1912

Our World-Wide Testimony Meeting

Greetings for the Week of Prayer From Many Lands

Chosen (Korea's New Name)

C. L. BUTTERFIELD: “Greetings from Chosen. The past year has been one of great blessings received. One hundred fifty have been baptized, and many others have expressed a desire to unite with God’s remnant people. Surely in this land, now known as Chosen, God has many chosen souls. By the time you read this, the buildings of our new mission station at Seoul will be completed. For the past three years we have been in rented quarters, and we thank God and the donors of the $300,000 Fund for the publishing-house, offices, chapel, and three dwellings now being built. While success in giving the message does not depend upon material things, yet the buildings will be a great help. Pray for the work and workers in Chosen.”

Ireland

J. J. GILLATT: “We have been passing through a period of severe strain, owing to the government’s action in seeking to pass the Home Rule Bill. In spite of the unrest, however, the people are more inclined than formerly to listen to the message we bear, and for this we are grateful to our Heavenly Father. Thus far twenty-two new members have been added this year, and others are awaiting baptism. This, though small, is the largest gain in any one year for Ireland. If stormy times will hasten the work, we say,— ‘Then let the hurricane roar, It will the sooner be o’er; We’ll weather the blast, and we’ll land at last Safe on the evergreen shore.’”

Pray for the progress of the message in priest-ridden Ireland.”

Shanghai, China

DR. A. C. SELMON: “Passing along Nanking road (the main street in the city of Shanghai) the other day, I noticed through an open doorway that the inside of a large building seemed on fire. But on coming nearer, it proved to be a temple. Over the doorway was the name, ‘Insure Peace Temple.’ I stepped in to see if the building was ablaze or not, and found the rooms so full of smoke that I could hardly breathe; but the smoke came from the thousands of sticks of burning incense, and from a large urn, near the door, that was full of artificial silver money. The place was full of people, and every one who came in added a big bunch of the paper money to the flaming heap. “Much is being said now of the wonderful changes that have taken and are taking place in China, but these changes have not weaned the people from their idolatry. In the crowd that thronged this temple were elegantly dressed men and women, women being in the majority, and they were all very intelligent-looking people. The saddest of all was to see that almost every one of the women had one or more of her little children with her, and these little ones were kotowing to the idols and muttering prayers to the filthy brass and iron gods. Changing from a monarchy to a republic does not change the hearts of the people. All that it will do is to open the way for us to bear a message to the people of the One who insures peace to those who put their trust in him.”

Brazilian Union

F. W. SPIES: “Cheering reports come from various parts of this great union field. Baptisms of believers are reported from the various divisions. Canvassers are having good success. The good work is onward. We are encouraged at what is being done; yet the many important and promising fields in which we have no workers cause us sorrow as we contemplate what might be done if we had the men and the means to push the work. Still we are hopeful, and believe the Lord is remembering our needs, and is preparing workers and gifts for Brazil. So we keep on placing ourselves and the need before him.”

Tsungwesi Mission, Rhodesia

M. C. STURDEVANT: “Greetings to all assembled in the week of prayer from the workers at Tsungwesi. The work is truly onward. Eleven were baptized in June as the first-fruits of our new mission. All is well.”

Bengal, India

L. G. MOOKERJEE: “Step by step the Lord is leading the remnant people. Each week of prayer season has found us on higher ground. We pray that God may bestow his Spirit upon his waiting church. The household of faith in Bengal send their Christian greetings to all.”

Pakhoi, South China

A. H. BACH: “Heartiest greetings from a land where Satan leads captive at his will millions on millions of souls, from a place where practically not one realizes his need of a Saviour, and yet where, praise God, nearly one hundred have been won to accept the present-time truth, and to wait for the Lord from heaven. They all send their hearty wishes, asking you to join them in prayer, that the gospel may be preached here with saving effect, that our motives may be above every human motive, and that the work may be, even in the smallest details of every-day life, wholly the Lord’s.”

Algiers, North Africa

PAUL BADAUT: “Our workers in Algeria unite with me in the testimony of good cheer and hope, mingling our praises to the Heavenly Father with the voices of our world-wide coworkers. We thank him for the victories given, and for the assurance that at a time not distant the lights of the last message will be shining all along this border of darkest Africa, from Tunis to Morocco.”

India

V. L. MANN, M. D.: “Although we are surrounded by sin, sickness, and death, we feel drops of the latter rain, for which we thank God. We need your cooperation in preparing some of India’s millions for that universe-wide social meeting soon to come in heaven, with Christ as leader. Pray with us that India may have a large representation there.”

South American Union

J. W. WESTPHAL: “The interest our brethren in the home lands have shown in our field by their prayers and their liberal gifts, and by workers sent, is reciprocated by our brethren here with heartfelt gratitude. The believers here are anxious to help in similar ways. As an example: while the average tithe per member of the church at our school headquarters in Argentina was five dollars for the first six months of the present year, the donations for the same time amounted to an equal sum, and this after two years of almost total failure of crops. The prayers of our brethren are ascending to God that he may bless the offerings to the salvation of souls in every land that the gifts may reach. “Yet, thank the Lord, the calls are ever ahead of our efforts. The Lord is opening doors for us before we call. People outside of the denomination are asking us to begin a larger work for the Indians of the Andes. Only recently a letter came from a prominent resident of La Paz, Bolivia, asking that we begin Indian work at that place. We have

long-delayed calls to enter the southern extremity of the continent, the territory along the Strait of Magellan. We rejoice that the General Conference is making an effort to send a man to take up this work. Recently the first church was organized in Ecuador. The difference in the present condition of the fields and that of eleven years ago, when I first saw them, is wonderful. Then in some of the fields every door seemed closed to the truth. To-day there is not one field where the doors are not wide open. Open doors beckon us forward, and the responsibility of entering rests upon us.”

East German Union

H. F. SCHUBERTH, the president, speaks especially for the new mission field of Galicia, in Austria: “The members of the first Galician society, Ray of Light, send greetings, and desire at this season of prayer to express their thanks to God, and their appreciation to the brethren, for sending them the third angel’s message. Nine million people in the darkness of Roman and Greek Catholicism ought to hear the truth. As all opportunities to get at the people through our literature were taken away by law, the only way was to organize this society, Ray of Light; but even now our workers have several times been called before the police, all letters and papers searched, and one of our best Polish-speaking German woman nurses was sent out of the country. As the East and West Galician Missions, since the organization of the Danube Union, are the only mission fields that are worked and supported by the East German Union, we feel a special burden for the millions of that country, and we ask for the prayers of the people of God for the work and workers in this difficult field. May the Lord use this new society as a ray of light in saving many souls for eternity.”

Province of Hunan, China

R. F. AND MRS. COTTRELL: “Our fifth summer in China is nearing its close, and we praise the Lord for the strength he has given us thus far to labor for him. We thank him for the comfortable home he has enabled us to build here, made possible through the gifts of our brethren and sisters in America. We rejoice in the progress the message is making in this land, so long under the ensign and power of the dragon. However, the enemy is still alive and active. At the instigation of Roman Catholics, a number of our people have recently been imprisoned on various false charges. One, a canvasser of only a few months’ experience, lying in a dreary, filthy jail, writes that although his health is suffering from the confinement, his faith is still strong in God. Conscious of his innocence, he believes that the same One who liberated Peter will soon open before him the prison doors that he may again travel and witness for Jesus. The evidence of what the gospel can do and is doing for many in dark China should inspire and nerve every soul with fresh courage.”

Hawaiian Islands

C. D. M. WILLIAMS: “Hawaii sends greetings. The message is onward. We are of good courage. Last night two went forward in baptism. This week we are starting the work on the island of Maui. Our Norwegian brethren on the island of Hawaii have another family keeping the Sabbath. We were glad to greet Brother and Sister Robert McKeague a few days ago, and to see that the Lord is answering the Macedonian cry of Hawaii.”

Chowkiakow Training-School, Hunan

F. A. ALLUM: “To our brethren and sisters assembled during the week of prayer, greeting. At this season of prayer we would ask you all to remember China. The spirit of prophecy says: ‘Let us cry to God that the angels may hold the four winds till missionaries shall be sent into all parts of the world, and shall proclaim the warning against disobeying the law of Jehovah.’ From this we can see that until China is warned, neither you nor I can expect to see the return of our Lord. Therefore, my earnest prayer at this season shall be, and I hope, dear brethren and sisters, that you will make it yours, too:— “Stir me, O stir me, Lord! I care not how, But stir my heart in passion for the world. Stir me to give, to go, but most to pray; Stir, till the blood-red banner be unfurled O’er the lands that still in heathen darkness lie, O’er deserts where no cross is lifted high.’”

Montevideo, Uruguay

NORA DAVIS: “It is such a pleasure to see the work in the city of Montevideo opening up so rapidly, both medical and evangelical. Doors which have been closed are now being opened, and prejudices broken down. We find it very true that the missionary nurse’s work opens the doors to the Bible work. We are all of good courage, and are pressing on. Pray for us.”

Scotland

A. E. BACON: “Greetings from the believers in Scotland. We rejoice with you in the progress of the message in every land. This year we have many blessings from the Lord, in Scotland. A sturdy band of believers are gathering to the standard of truth in this land, in whose hearts burns the loyal spirit of the old Covenanters. While the battle is severe, we are assured of final victory. We thank God that by his grace we can say with Joshua and Caleb, We are well able to go up and possess the goodly land.”

Hunan, China

HWANG DGEN DAO, native evangelist, bears testimony through translation by R. F. Cottrell: “I praise the Lord that his Spirit has been at work in Hunan. Recently conditions have greatly changed. Previously the workers in our mission found few openings for preaching, and suffered much reviling and persecution. At the present time some who formerly persecuted are most friendly, some who reviled us previously now speak words of commendation. Moreover, many are now longing for the third angel’s message, not only in Changsha, but in the cities, towns, and country districts throughout the province. This can be none other than a fulfilment of Matt. 24:14, and this evidence of Christ’s soon return fills my heart with cheer and praise.”

Shanghai, China

C. N. WOODWARD, secretary and treasurer of the China Union Mission: “One year ago I had not the remotest idea of being in a foreign field to-day. But I have nothing to regret, for the past year has brought many blessings. When I see how God can take a heathen from his idols, and give him an intelligent knowledge of his truth and a fervent love for it, how can I doubt his ability and willingness to work through us to finish his work in the earth?”

Calcutta, India

FROM this city of a million, where Elders G. W. Pettit and J. M. Comer are in the midst of a city effort, Elder Pettit speaks: “The cities of India send greetings. The little church here, numbering less than twenty, are overjoyed that God is answering prayer and is sending them help to proclaim the message that has kept them faithful and in the attitude of prayer for years without the living preacher. The believers and the handful of workers here enter upon the work courage-filled as they remember all those around the world who will be pressing their petitions before the throne in heaven in behalf of India.”

Sumatra, East Indies

B. JUDGE: “Pray for us while we pray for you. ‘Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.’ Here we are among millions of people, and no ordained man to administer baptism. We have four believers waiting to be baptized, one from the worshiping of devils. Who is going to help answer his own prayers for help for these islands? We are full of courage as we read such texts as this: ‘I am sought of them that ask not for me; I am found of them that sought me not.’”

Italy

L. ZECCHETTO: “Last Sabbath was another good day here in Florence. A crowd of people was gathered by the lovely Arno to witness another baptismal service,—a young man leaving all to follow his Master. He goes to our school at Gland, Switzerland, to prepare for service in the message. I am more encouraged in the work than ever.”