Messages from the Mission Fields

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1907

Messages from the Mission Fields

(Reading for Sunday, December 15)

We have messages from some of the great mission fields, sent by our workers for this week-of-prayer season.

Japan and Korea

The first comes from Japan and Korea, the lands of the rising sun. Elder F. W. Field writes:—

“The week-of-prayer season, with its accompanying gifts to our missions, is an occasion of deep interest to us missionaries; for at this time we are assured that the work in foreign fields will be especially remembered by our people everywhere. And this brief word is sent concerning the latest development of the work in Japan and Korea, that all may the more understandingly pray to the God of missions, and aid by their gifts.

“We are glad to report continued progress. Word has just come from Brother Okohira, who is making a visit to Kiushu in the south, that several have accepted the truth in Nagasaki. They desire baptism and a training in the work. There are others who are looking forward hopefully to the time when we shall have a school for the training of workers. Pray that they may not have long to wait.

“Our medical work in Kobe has never seemed more promising than of late, nor the opportunities for reaching the people better. At the same time we have had to meet difficulties and perplexities.

These difficulties could be removed most effectively by providing an institution of our own, to accommodate both native and foreign patients, as planned at our general meeting last winter.

“The cause of truth continues to advance in Korea. We rejoice at the coming of Elder James Shultz to that needy field. In your prayers remember the spiritual needs of ten million Koreans, and five times as many Japanese. We are of good courage in our work for these, and pledge ourselves to unite our prayers and efforts with yours, for their salvation.”

South Africa

Elder W. S. Hyatt sends this word from the Dark Continent:—

“Quickly has the year 1907 sped away, and another week of prayer is here. We are certain that you will remember our missionaries in Africa.

“Our brethren in this field are of good courage in the Lord and his work. It would do you good to bow with them around their family altars, and hear their earnest cries to God for help to do their daily work, and that his hand may open ways before them for the advancement of the truth. Yes, my brethren, your hearts would be stirred, if you could hear them pleading with God to send consecrated men and women into the field to bear the third angel’s message to those sitting in darkness.

“Our field is vast, but a beginning has been made, for which we are thankful. But, my brethren and sisters, it is only a beginning. Our hearts have been made to rejoice as we have heard the good reports from the west and east coasts. Truly Ethiopia is stretching out her hands unto God. In South Africa the light of the message is spreading among both Europeans and natives. Elder J. C. Rogers and wife have recently gone to Nyassaland. Elder M. C. Sturdevant has visited the most northern extremity of the new Cape-to-Cairo Railway, and he hopes soon to open work in that vicinity.

“We must keep pace with Nahum’s chariots, as they penetrate into the center of this dark continent. There is no stopping till even Central Africa has been lightened by that message that is to enlighten the world. The cry is, Onward; and our missionaries are seeking and longing to press forward; but before they can do so, others must step in and fill the places they now occupy. We must hold every step we have gained, and be continually seeking for new openings into which we may enter. This will require a continuous stream of men and women and funds, that will be ever enlarging as the work advances.

“In view of the greatness of this work and the shortness of time in which to do it, let me once more urge that you most earnestly plead, during this season of prayer, that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

South America

The next message comes from South America, land of Catholic darkness, called in missionary literature the Neglected Continent. Elder J. W. Westphal sends this salutation:—

“In the name of all our brethren throughout the South American field we send greeting to our brethren in other lands, in this, their annual week of prayer.

“We are glad to say that the work is onward in South America. Gradually the message has spread, until its arms enfold every republic of our field. Sabbath-keepers may be found from the equator to Terra del Fuego. While in the beginning the work must be slow, it being the seed-sowing time, we are encouraged to believe that South America will ere long be lightened with the glory of the angel who joins the third angel to give power to his message.

“While a beginning has been made, we must, however, consider it only the beginning of a great work. Forty million souls are groping in darkness. They are crowded in the cities, roving in wild, desert regions, and scattered everywhere, living in mansion and hovel. They embrace the most enlightened European and the most ignorant aborigine. While the message of God is going to other lands, have the equally hopeless Catholics and the millions of red men of the Neglected Continent no claims upon us? The work in South America must be done by hardship and privation, amid great discouragement at times. Our faithful, self-denying laborers must be reinforced by both men and means. The banner dropped by those fallen in death or those dropping out of the ranks must be raised higher by strong volunteers. Ecuador has been consecrated to the work of the third angel by the death of one of her pioneer missionaries, the wife of Brother F. H. Davis.

A letter received from Brother Davis just after his bereavement says: ‘Well, Brother Westphal, I am very sad, as death has claimed my dear wife. . . . Brother Yepez was away at the time in Quito, so I was all alone. We laid Susanna away under a large mulberry-tree in the cemetery. As I wrote to Brother Casebeer, I am not discouraged, but very sad, indeed. I want to stay in Ecuador some time yet, and see the work start.’

“A sadder feature is that hundreds of thousands are laid away—frequently cast away—annually, without hope, and without God in the world. One who was ever a source of encouragement to her husband in his work has fallen. But his heart is not separated from his chosen work. Shall such mute but eloquent appeals for the needy of these lands be made in vain? Will not others come forward to the support of those who remain? While some are sacrificing their time, comforts, strength, and even life, we believe our brethren will deem it a privilege to support the work with glad hearts and willing offerings.

“We need your prayers. We commend the interests of the work in South America to the supplication of our people during this week of prayer. May the Dayspring from on high visit us all ‘to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’”

The German-Russian Field

From the German-Russian Field Elder L. R. Conradi sends his message from the most populous of the European districts. He says:—

“The work to be done here can be best realized when we see that the two fields together have about two hundred eighty-five million people in their territory, or nearly one fifth of the world’s population. The Russian field contains about three times as much territory as the United States, and its population is one hundred forty-six million. In this mighty empire we have twenty-five hundred Sabbath-keepers.

“Asiatic Russia has been set apart as a separate mission. It is twice the size of Canada, and has three times its population. The country is settling up very fast. During the first six months of this year two hundred thousand immigrants entered Siberia. The only laborers we have in that vast field are two ordained ministers and a few Bible workers. During the last six months, Elder H. K. Loebsack has visited Samarkand and Tashkend, Mohammedan strongholds in the very heart of Asia, on the borders of China and India. He has also been as far as Semipalatinsk, establishing a church of thirteen members within thirteen miles of that city, and organizing a company near Omsk. He also learned of some of our people in four different places near Akmolinsk. He writes that a worker would have to spend a year there, and travel ten thousand

miles, to visit all our Sabbath-keepers scattered throughout that vast territory. Those who have labored in the far West during the early days, or those who are now laboring in British America, know how important it is to strengthen these outposts that are scattered along the Chinese border all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

“Coming to European Russia, we find that there are to-day in the Middle Russian Mission field, with a population of sixty-seven million, only about three hundred Sabbath-keepers, one ordained minister, and four other workers. We have only touched that work with the tips of our fingers. We must spare neither means nor effort to educate workers, circulate literature, and develop this field.

“But there is a great task before the German Union proper, after the separation of the Russian Union—a task just as great, perhaps, as that of carrying the message to Russia.

“Germany itself has sixty-two million people. Nine years ago we organized our first conference; to-day there are eight organizations, and the ninth conference will be organized here soon, the total membership of Germany being about six thousand. Now, what would we think in the United States, if there were to-day, among the eighty million inhabitants, only eight thousand believers?”

“In Austria-Hungary there are another fifty million people. Hungary is to be organized into a conference this year, and we have in these two countries only five hundred Sabbath-keepers.

“There are about thirty million more people, with some seven hundred Sabbath-keepers, in the rest of our European territory; while in German East Africa we now have three main stations, with eight missionaries. We hope that erelong we shall be able to baptize some converts in this colony, the first fruits of our mission to the heathen in East Africa. Brother Enns, who has been looking for openings around Lake Victoria Nyanza, wrote as follows:—

“When I arrived at Kisumu, I called on the Uganda chief, and spoke to him about the Sabbath, giving him the Bible, and letting him read the Word himself. However, as he could not see so well by lamplight, he called another, who read for him. They were both astonished, and very grateful for having been shown the truth on this matter, so that they for themselves might know God’s requirements.”

“When we look at our immense territory,—fruitful fields, too, as nearly ten thousand believers have been gathered out already,—we are surely justified in asking God’s people to remember us in their prayers and in their offerings.”

West Indies and Central America

Elder U. Bender’s message comes from the newest union conference abroad—the West Indian Union:—

“‘Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. . . . Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.’ Isa. 42: 10, 12.

“‘Harken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arms shall they trust.’ Isa. 51: 4, 5.

“‘He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.’ Isa. 42: 4.

“These scriptures set forth the great work that God will do among the islands when his ‘salvation is near to come,’ and his ‘righteousness is near to be revealed.’

“Among the perplexing difficulties of the last few months, the truth of God has pushed steadily forward in this island field. Earthquakes have shaken and ruined one of our best cities, causing great loss and suffering. Lack of rainfall in a great deal of our territory has destroyed the fruit of labor, and discouraged many. Fever has been among us, with its burning and racking pain. One faithful soldier has fallen before its advance, while others have been laid low for a time. This message that is making known His praise in the islands, that they may wait for his law, does not stop nor pause because of the perplexities that come, but is making its way into dark places, that his judgments may rest for a light of the people.

“Good courage is expressed by the laborers in this West Indian Union field. Separated from one another as we are, we thank God for a truth that binds together, and is the power of God to save the people. As a people, we join with you in this season of seeking God, and personally consecrating ourselves to him for service in our homes and in all the world.”

India

The last message of greeting sent us is from India, the Gibraltar of heathenism. Elder J. L. Shaw writes:—

“Amid the mutterings of unrest, our little band of missionaries in India are doing what they can to advance the message of truth. While the angels of peace hold in check the elements of strife and destruction, our workers in different places are following the opening providences of God. Already a beginning has been made in seven different tongues. Among the Bengali-speaking people, who number forty-four million, we have seven workers, foreign and local. The Hindi and Urdu people, numbering together eighty-seven million, have four foreign and two Indian workers. Two others have recently begun labor among the Tamil people in south India, who number sixteen million. The Burmese, with eight million, have two foreign and three local helpers. The Santals, numbering about two million, have two foreign and four native workers. Aside from these, several are devoting themselves to work in the English language. Thus a beginning is being made in caste-ridden India. There is the shout of battle in the land. Siege is being laid in the very strongholds of Hinduism, and, thank God, souls in different parts of the field are getting deliverance, among both the Indian and the English-speaking people. Recently, a man, formerly a Mohammedan, born in Kashmir, began keeping the Sabbath amid much opposition. Having scores of men in his employ, how to keep the Sabbath holy with his household and the strangers within his gates, is a question which is giving him no little concern.

“Our literature is being widely scattered. We are now issuing tracts, papers, and pamphlets in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Burmese, Tamil, and English, and are finding that small pamphlets can be sold even to the poor. Those who earn only five or ten cents a day are persuaded to buy. A young native convert

sold seven hundred copies of a little booklet in Hindustani on present truth, last month. So the message is going. Our little printing-office at Karmatar is inadequate to the work. Steam power, another press, and more help are needed. Our present power is the India coolie, generally slow, and often unreliable. We should add to our facilities. Scores of tongues must have the message delivered to them in their own language. Our supplication unto God is that organization and equipment necessary to place the warning message of truth in the hands of this vast sea of people in the next few years may be forthcoming.

“We send, in conclusion, a few words of cheer and courage to our beloved brethren in the home land. If God be for us, who can be against us? The battle is fairly on. Though we are doing little, yet the artillery of heaven is at work, and present truth will beat no retreat. Suffering, sacrifice, and death will but hurry on the heralds of our coming King. The chariots of Jehovah will delay no longer, and those among his people who have the faith of Jesus will be his representatives to swell the cry of deliverance among India’s many people. Brethren at home, you are with us in this conflict at the ends of the earth. Pray for the feeble forces at the front. Plead for us night and day, that boldness and the entrance of his Word may be found. Pray that the Mission Board at home may be moved to send your strongest soldiers to heathen lands, and pledge to God that even to the extent of sacrifice and much self-denial you will support such with your means and with your prayers. While we are fighting against heathenism in India, you must fight against heathenism at home—that heathenism which draws tight the purse-strings, and does homage to the god of gold. As you triumph, so will God’s cause triumph; and so shall his work in distant lands.”

INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY OFFICE, HAMBURG