A Remarkable Situation by Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1902

A Remarkable Situation

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

We as a people are facing a remarkable situation—the world prepared for our message, and calling to us in trumpet tones to give it more speedily.

This is neither a sentiment nor an overdrawn statement. It is the truth. The call comes to us from our messengers in all parts of the world. It is placed before us in touching and cheering incidents of victories gained, and in sober, truthful descriptions of providential openings, and positive demands for a strong advance.

Brother J. L. Shaw writes from India:—

The work in this field is growing, and we as workers are being severely taxed to meet the demands made upon us. We have reached the point where we shall have either to narrow down our work or have more help. As workers I believe our hearts are being drawn more and more toward the work in this field. Between three and four thousand rupees ($1,000 or $1,300) have been pledged by the workers toward a school for natives, and without pressure some have pledged all they have. For my own part, my heart is wrapped up in this field, and I feel to offer my salary for the coming year to the Mission Board, providing they will send us help to circulate our literature through this country among the English-speaking people.

Here is an earnest call from Brother Anderson, of Matabeleland, in behalf of Central Africa:—

We feel very anxious about Barotseland. The king is just back from the

missionaries. I longed to go to him when I saw him in Buluwayo, and tell him we were ready to enter his country. He wants industrial missions established. We ought to be ready to enter that field next April.

The Lord wants us to be the head and not the tail. We can see how matters have been held so that we might enter the field. If we enter now, we shall be the first to occupy the land. The French have been there for years, and are now in disfavor. Shall we enter now? If we are there first, we shall not have so much to meet from those who are against the truth.

When in England, attending the London Conference last May, I listened to an earnest, intelligent, touching call from the Gold Coast, West Africa. It was made by our dear Brother Hayford, a native of that part of Africa. This brother was brought up a Christian, and educated for gospel work. During the labors of our missionaries in the Gold Coast some years ago, he, with a few others, accepted the truth. When our missionaries left the field four or five years ago, these believers were left alone. This brother has held to the truth, and has waited patiently, but called earnestly, for some one to return.

Despairing of receiving help, he brought three or four native boys to England about one year ago, hoping that these young men could receive a training that would fit them to return to the Gold Coast and teach this message. One of these young men was placed in the London Bible School, and remained until the close of the year. He is probably attending this school at the present time.

During our London Conference last May, Brother Hayford met the European General Conference Committee a number of times, and pleaded with them most earnestly to send at least one laborer to the Gold Coast, who could take charge of the field. We assured him that we would endeavor to do this. Since returning from Europe, we have talked the matter over a number of times on the Board, but have not known whom to send, nor how to secure the means. We have recently found two laborers who are anxious to go to the Gold Coast. Now we need the means to send and support them. Surely with the abundance with which God has blessed our people this year, we ought not to wait long for the means.

During the last two years, earnest, intelligent calls have come from Brother Munson in the East Indies for more help. A few weeks ago, Sister Walker, a trained nurse, left this country to join Brother and Sister Munson, but more help should be sent.

Thus it is that from all the world there comes now to Seventh-day Adventists in America, definite, pressing, continuous calls for help. The truth is, we have come to a place in our work when something must be done, and that without delay. We have claimed that God's final message is now due to the world, and that this people have been raised up to give it. We have gone to nearly all nations with this solemn proclamation. Thus, people have been convinced and convicted. This has opened many avenues for giving our message. And now, as a result of this work, there comes to us from all the earth a mighty call for a large, world-wide movement. That call cannot be ignored. We cannot retract, we cannot retreat, we cannot stand still, and we do not wish to do so.

There is but one thing for us, that is to go forward. And this is what our people everywhere wish to do, and willing volunteers for service are coming forward most encouragingly.

There is a willingness manifested by parents and children to make a consecration of service to the cause of God. But with this there must be a consecration of means, and this is the special burden of this article. The readings for the week of prayer give a trumpet call to this people to go forward. Much has been written regarding the coming week of prayer, setting forth the duty of those who can consistently do so, to volunteer for service in foreign fields. But not a great deal has been said in behalf of means. We do not wish to press this feature unduly, but it must not be lost sight of. We all know that it takes means to send laborers into distant fields and support them there. It would be sad indeed if, during the coming year, we could not answer the pressing calls for help, because of a lack of means.

Brethren, God has greatly blessed his people in America with good crops, high prices, and large wages. He has also shown us how to live without intoxicating liquors, tobacco, tea, and coffee, and he has shown us how to employ our time without attending theaters, races, and other places of amusement which drain the pockets of those who do. In this way, we estimate that our people in America save upward of three million dollars annually that other people spend without any material profit whatever. Of course the saving both spiritually and healthwise is still greater.

In view of all this, should we not make an effort this year to make the annual offering larger than has ever been received on any similar occasion before? Really there is no reason why the week-of-prayer contributions this year should not amount to fifty thousand dollars. We plead most earnestly that every believer in the third angel's message will give this matter sober, earnest consideration, and act in harmony with the conditions which we face to-day. The situation is marvelous. The outlook is most assuring and encouraging. Let us all now consecrate our means this day unto His service. A. G. DANIELLS.