What Will Our People Say? by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 10, 1910

What Will Our People Say?

By William Ambrose Spicer

HERE is a word just in from Korea. Elder C. L. Butterfield, superintendent, says:—

“We are having a financial crisis in our mission, such as we have not had since it was established. We are absolutely out of funds, and were only able to pay half salaries last month. We can not send workers from one station to another, for we have not the fare. Everything is tied up. We have used up about all the paper we have in our printing-house, and we have to pay cash for more; but unless we get money soon, we shall have to stop work. The dormitory of the Soonan school is nearing completion, but we have had to stop work on it because we have no more funds. Fifty dollars would complete the building, and we need it very much; but we have not the fifty dollars, neither can we get it until funds come from America. We are all well and of good courage, and we look for a good harvest of souls in this field this year. ‘God has set his hand to finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness.’”

NOW, some money has gone on to Korea, barely to keep them going. But Korea is not an isolated case. All the missions are suffering need round the whole circle. Our General Conference treasury has had to borrow money for several months to keep these partial remittances going to the fields. Weeks ago, though some fields are calling pitifully, all appointments of additional workers were canceled for this year, and the usual autumn departures will not be recorded. One or two may go, where support does not fall on mission funds. But the Mission Board must now hold still until money comes in to make up deficits and warrant new work. We can never go on borrowing money to operate our mission fields, where God is so wonderfully blessing.

We believe our brethren will at once begin to pour the gifts for missions into their conference treasuries to meet this crisis. The annual week-of-prayer offering is nearing, and ought to be the largest ever made; but now is the time also to help. Our first duty is to put on grounds of common safety the workers and families who represent the message in the far fields, under trying conditions even when the necessary funds are supplied. We can never think of placing our brethren in the front of the battle, and then drawing back from them. We are sending them word that their brethren at home will stand by. What will our people say? Talk it over in the churches, and let every member give the answer. W. A. S.