A Fresh Stroke for Missions
By W. A. Spicer
The Missionary Magazine to be Merged into the Review WHEN God quickened the pulse of Christendom a century and more ago, by the Methodist revival, and hearts let in the all-consuming love of Jesus, John Wesley cried out, “The world is my parish!” Who that knows the love of Christ can help loving the world which he loved, and for which he died? To-day we cry out, The world is our parish! The only object of our existence as a people is to carry a message from God to all men. Others may regard the cause of missions as, to a greater or less degree, an appendage to the program of organized work at home. With us, the object of the home organization is to push the frontiers of our work ever outward to the uttermost parts of the earth. It is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one field—the world that God loves. Why, then, should not the REVIEW AND HERALD voice the call of our Leader, from the regions beyond as well as the call from the home field? It stands ready to do so. And now that, more than ever before, we have been led of God definitely to take up the work of carrying this message with swift feet through every land, all the conferences and churches and people cheering the workers forward, the brethren of the General Conference and others with whom we have had opportunity to counsel, have favored the idea of merging the Missionary Magazine into the REVIEW. It is a forward step, we believe. The fields and their needs will be set before a large number of our brethren by this change. The expense and labor of continuing another paper will be saved to the funds of the Mission Board. Our people will get the same matter. The trumpet call to press the battle to the outermost gates of the people will ring out the more loudly. Our people will rally more largely as a unit to sustain the missionary interests. Some, we know, will regret to see the familiar face of the Missionary Magazine disappear; but if only it hastens the time when His blessed face shall appear to gather the world-wide harvest, all of us will thank God for the advance step, and rally to put the REVIEW into every Sabbath-keeping household. We want no unnecessary machinery. We do not wish to put energy and time into pushing any publication that is not absolutely demanded by the needs of the work. The mission cause is the greatest issue that faces us to-day. When the witness has been borne abroad, the work may be finished at home in short order. The reflex influence of a missionary crusade that shall sweep the world, will of itself prepare believers to rise and finish the work in this country. So easily can God cut short the work in righteousness. It is a grand thing to be alive and in God's work in these thrilling times. After the May number of the Missionary Magazine, please note, its publication as a separate journal will be discontinued. All subscribers will be given credit on the REVIEW list for the unexpired term. All will get the same matter—and more. The Mission Board will continue gathering reports and articles from the workers abroad, passing them on through the REVIEW, so that the moving panorama of the closing work of God may pass before the eyes of our brethren week by week. And blessed are the eyes that see what we look upon to-day. W. A. SPICER.