A Great Campaign by A. G. Daniells

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1902

A Great Campaign

By A. G. Daniells

“AWAKE, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion.” “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead.” “It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

A tremendous crisis is just upon the world. The last days of the great controversy are here. The forces of evil are being marshaled for the final conflict, and the souls of men are at stake. And the world knows not of this crisis. It is asleep. It sleeps the sleep of a false security. It says, “All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” It is hoping for better times. But the worst part of the situation is that those who have had the warning, those who have been set as watchmen to blow the trumpet when they see the evil coming, have been in so large a degree overcome by the spirit of the world that they have failed to give the trumpet a certain sound. “The people to whom God has intrusted eternal interests, the depositaries of truth pregnant with eternal results, the keepers of light that is to illuminate the whole world, have lost their bearings.” This was written in 1896. May we not hope that they have found their bearings, and are now ready for action?

A most grave responsibility certainly rests upon the people who have accepted the name of Seventh-day Adventists. Light has been imparted to them upon the prophecies. The meaning of those things which perplex the wisest minds has been made clear to them through the prophetic word. They know that probation is about to close, that the end of all things is at hand, and that the time is right upon us when “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” How can our own garments be clear from the blood of souls, unless we make a supreme effort to give the warning message to the world? How can we face the judgment with a clear conscience, unless we go personally to neighbors, friends, and the world at large, and tell them the meaning of the present situation, and urge them to prepare to meet the Lord? We must face our responsibility in the fear of God. The earnest efforts now being put forth in behalf of the people in other lands must be supplemented by the same earnest efforts in behalf of the people in the home land.

These considerations have rested with much weight upon the minds of the members of the General Conference Committee, and they are most desirous of seeing this whole people enter upon a great campaign for giving this message to the world. Those who believe this truth should now rise up as one man to proclaim it in the highways and the byways. A quick work can now be done, if all will unite heartily.

One most effective method for giving this message is to circulate small tracts, “like the leaves of autumn.” This is a work in which the whole membership of the church can engage. Young and old, rich and poor, can share in such a campaign as this. And small tracts setting forth in distinct lines the leading features of this message will arrest the attention of many a careless and skeptical wanderer, and often prepare the way for the full acceptance of the truth for this time. Deeply impressed with the great importance of such a campaign, the General Conference Committee has arranged for the preparation of four new tracts of from eight to sixteen pages each, with the following titles: “What Do These Things Mean?” “The Signs of the Times,” “The Second Advent of Our Lord,” “The Gospel Remedy for Present-Day Isms: Spiritualism, Hypnotism, Christian Scientism, Higher Criticism.” These tracts are to be in the hands of the tract societies by Jan. 1, 1903. Full particulars as to prices, plans for circulation, etc., will be given in further articles in the REVIEW and in the State papers, and through correspondence.

We now ask our people everywhere to unite in the greatest campaign ever known in the history of this message for the circulation of these messengers of warning. They should be scattered by the millions. We can do it. The times are ripe for it. We owe it to ourselves and to the world that we should rise up and do it. Think about it. Pray about it. Get a burden on your soul to do something to help arouse the world from its false security, and to proclaim the blessed hope of a soon-coming Saviour. You will hear from us about this matter again. May we not hear from those whose hearts are stirred by this appeal?

In behalf of the General Conference Committee, A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman.