The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 27, 1882

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

Shall the Missionary Work be Encouraged?

ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

The circumstances under which our people labor in Europe are entirely different from what they are in America. In saying this we only repeat what has often been said by others. The people in England, however, are more accessible than in the countries on the opposite side of the English Channel. In many places in England, the two extremes, the upper and lower classes of society, meet. In such places it is very difficult to accomplish much. In other portions of the country the customs of the people are more broken by those of other nationalities who come to live, or to do business, and these localities are the most favorable for labor.

The English people are liberal with respect to aiding missionary enterprises, as is fully proved by their history, as well as by our experience since coming to Europe. On the Continent it is far more difficult to reach people by public labor than in England. Switzerland is divided up into cantons, each one having laws of its own. These laws conflict materially with the work of the colporteur. He must procure an expensive license, or conform to other requirements which greatly hinder the work. In France there are laws which forbid the sale of religious reading matter unless it is sanctioned by the authorities, and these authorities are influenced largely by the established church. Assemblies of more than twenty persons are not permitted unless it be in a public place. All public buildings suitable for meeting purposes are also under the control of the same church.

Thus it is with all the nations of Europe, while at the same time they profess to give great freedom of religious sentiment. It would seem that the laws and customs of these countries were arranged to prevent, if possible, any great public effort in behalf of present truth. But notwithstanding all this, we have evidence that God has some who fear him in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and from among these the solemn truths of the third angel's message will gather a people, and prepare them to meet the Lord.

In England and some other countries, tent meetings and street preaching are allowed, and to every nation the mails will carry denominational publications, providing they do not take sides in political questions. Upon this point there is a national jealousy. Expressions which would pass unnoticed in America, would be counted treason in some countries. But our work is not a political one. Our message does not ignore any system of government, but it advocates those principles which, if received, will make better men and women under any government. It is the good news of salvation from sin through the efficacy of our Lord Jesus Christ. This, all civilized nations profess to accept. They are called Christian nations. They profess to take the Bible as their only infallible rule of moral action. The laws of nations are supposed to be founded on the principles taught in the Scriptures, and since God has a people to be gathered from all nations he has something to do with law-makers, and rulers. See the apostle Paul's argument in Romans 13.

The press, and our missionary effort as it has been adopted in America, are emphatically the right arm of our strength in the promulgation of the present truth in Europe. Like the leaves of autumn, our tracts and papers freighted with precious truth should be scattered everywhere.

He who reasons that the ministry will largely accomplish God's work in the closing scene of this world's history, independent of missionary effort, does not reason wisely. Such persons are too narrow in their views, and too exclusive in their mode of operation. The ministry is ordained of God to accomplish an important part in his work, but every one should be encouraged to contribute in some manner to the advancement of God's truth on the earth. The first impulse of every soul that has been converted to God, is to tell others what God has done for him, and to impart to others the precious light which he has received. To encourage this spirit by presenting some plan of action before the individual, is building up the cause of God in the earth.

All religious denominations have encouraged this spirit in their early history. This is what has given them success. But the sacrifice required in such a work is not in harmony with the natural heart. The practice of self-denial will never be popular in a world of selfishness, and so there will ever be with every denomination, a tendency to formalism as soon as it has members sufficient to command respect. But the old-fashioned religion, with old-fashioned principles of self-denial and sacrifice, such as were illustrated in the days of the first advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, are what will finally triumph. It is this that the people of God so much need.