p. 15 | A Crisis in Maine by S. N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 17, 1911

A Crisis in Maine

By S. N. Haskell

In the history of the work of the Lord from the earliest times, there have come crises when individuals rose up and justified God and brought salvation to themselves and to the people. They could discern the importance of the time; therefore they accepted the message God sent. There has also been another class

who could not discern the providence of God, and did not believe his testimony. Those brought to themselves a curse.

Jael was a tender-hearted woman. She belonged to a tender-hearted family, and was on friendly terms with the enemy; and yet in the time of crisis she defended the cause of God by killing the enemy of Israel. God said of her, “Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.” Zebulun and Naphtali also jeoparded their lives unto death in the high places of the field; but there were others who did not see the importance of giving themselves to the work of the Lord, and to these the message came, “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” See Judges 5:17-28.

In the history of the third angel’s message, there have also been times when the believers were called upon to arise and meet certain emergencies. The Maine Conference is now in a crisis on the temperance question. For years this State has stood true to prohibition, and its influence has been felt to a greater or less degree all over the United States, and even in other countries; but now a crisis has come. There exists a strong influence in favor of licensing the sale of alcoholic drinks; and unless strenuous efforts are put forth, the danger is that Maine will cease to be a prohibition State. Every Seventh-day Adventist should be interested in this temperance battle going on in Maine. Wherever there is a purely temperance issue, as it is in Maine at present, our people can conscientiously join with the temperance workers, and help stay the tide of intemperance.

We want thousands of the Temperance Instructor to circulate in this State before the election that comes off on the eleventh of September. The brethren in this conference are poor and unable to pay for them. We appeal to our brethren and sisters to help the brethren in this conference. The Review and Herald has given one thousand copies. We could use fifty thousand, and ought to have that many. Will our brethren help pay for them? The W. C. T. U. and other temperance societies are holding mass-meetings throughout the State, and are doing all they can. Shall we stand idly by and not lend a helping hand? These temperance people gladly welcome our cooperation. Temperance rallies are being held all over the State, and at these gatherings large numbers of the Temperance Instructor and temperance tracts can and should be distributed. Shall we not aid in this good work?

For one of the large temperance meetings in Portland, we secured five hundred copies of the Temperance Instructor for free distribution. There were more than one thousand people present. The chairman of the meeting recommended the Instructor. Our brethren distributed the papers, but they did not go half around. This shows how these temperance people will accept the help of any who will cooperate with them in fighting the liquor traffic. The spirit of prophecy has recommended our taking advantage of such favorable opportunities for cooperation. Many will thus be led to see the light of truth through a liberal spirit manifested on our part in that which will prove a blessing to any community.

What is done must be done quickly. We have but one month in which to work. May the Lord help our people to see the importance of the present hour. Whoever may feel inclined to donate, or any conference that desires to have a part in this work, may send donations directly to D. W. Reavis, Takoma Park Sta., Washington, D. C., and he will promptly forward the papers to Maine. The price of the papers is $4 a hundred, or $40 a thousand. If sufficient is donated to pay for 10,000 copies, the publishers will add, in papers, ten per cent of the whole amount donated, which will bring the price of the papers down to about 3½ cents a copy. Whatever is done in this special effort must be done at once. Who will help us?

S. N. HASKELL.