Greetings From Afar

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1911

Greetings From Afar

As we near the week of prayer season, the hearts of our missionaries in distant lands turn toward the little praying bands in the churches at home. Their words of hope and cheer will be read with deep interest. Brother Robert S. Greaves writes from Turkey:—

“At this season of the year we are thinking of our brethren in the home land, and of the many earnest prayers that will ascend to heaven, and of the strivings and longings after a higher life which will be experienced by many souls. May God grant that we shall be one with you in seeking for grace and humility of heart. We long for a closer walk with our Saviour and for more power in our lives, that this work may be carried forward to completion. We are thinking of you as you gather for the week of prayer meetings; the seas are only able to separate our bodies, for we are united with you in prayer, faith, and love. We wish to send you our greetings, and a word of courage and hope. There are some perplexities, but the Lord draws closer. We are looking forward to the time of reaping, and know we shall all rejoice to find that from every nation some are gathered out to sing the song of victory over sin and death.”

FROM the great Chinese empire, which is now in the throes of a revolution, Brother W. E. Gillis sends these words:—

“China knocks at the door to join you in the bond of the covenant and harmony of the Spirit that will hasten the day of Jesus’ coming. Can any who sees the travail of sin and its harvest of death as witnessed here in the last few months, do less than weep in anguish of soul for the Spirit’s power and a coming Saviour? We have read in the daily press of the manipulations of wicked men to make gain from the gifts to famine sufferers. Have the brethren in the world-wide field read in ‘Desire of Ages’ a similar description of those who are selfishly diverting heaven’s message and God’s gifts from those who are in a worse famine for spiritual succor?”

BROTHER GEO. F. ENOCH writes from the India Mission field:—

“In our corner of the field twenty million Marathi and ten million Gujerati, and Bombay, one of the great cities of the world, with one million inhabitants, mutely appeal to us for the message of life. Working in their behalf are two married and two single workers, engaged at present for the most part in the study of the difficult language and the training of the little company of native workers. Facing heathenism in its darkest and most subtle forms, and Mohammedanism in its fanatical self-complacency, we crave the prayers of our people for the guidance of God in the laying of the foundations of the work of the message, that a band of consecrated workers may be trained for effectual service, and also for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that the written and spoken word may bear fruit to the glory of God in the salvation of souls.”

A MESSAGE from Java swells the chorus. Of the work there Brother R. W. Munson says:—

“Our field and our need are very great. Forty millions are in darkness. When shall they get the light of the third angel’s message? We all send you greetings and implore your sympathy and your help. The religion of the false prophet holds sway here. I speak especially for Java. God is blessing our labors. A native of west Java, in the employ of the Roman Church, heard of the Sabbath, and six times walked twenty miles to Batavia and back to find a brother who could tell him the truth. The sixth time he succeeded, after an all-night walk. He sat for six hours waiting till the brother came from work. After three hours’ study he went back home to tell his people on the following day (Sunday) all he had learned about the Sabbath. As a result, he was dismissed from their employ, and his wages ceased. But the Lord has fed him. He has a large family. He is very enthusiastic and deeply in love with the truth. There are other hungry souls, but our small force is to be depleted by the departure of two workers on account of the malaria, our worst enemy healthwise. Who will come to take their places? There is precious ‘gold’ in this land. Who will come to give Java and the Indies the message of the glorious third angel? The enemy is powerful. ‘We must advance on our knees,’ as said the godly Neesima, of Japan. Come over and help us.”