The Trumpet's Certain Sound by Mrs. S. R. Town

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1907

The Trumpet's Certain Sound

By Mrs. S. R. Town

To those who have been on the outposts of the advance line of missionary effort for ten, fifteen, and twenty years, watching the battle's slow advance, the definite efforts being put forth at home during the last year to supply fresh recruits have brought rejoicing of heart, and almost caused faith in the triumph of the message in this generation to give way to sight.

“Old men for counsel; young men for war.” The life and vigor and enthusiasm of youth are what is needed all along the line. But in this very zeal lies danger, if it is not according to knowledge. More than one hasty messenger has run before getting his tidings, and has had to give place to others, bringing discouragement to himself, to those he leaves behind in the field of labor, and to the friends at home to whom he returns. The cause of missions suffers much from such sources. Hence the joy and satisfaction it brings to know that our young people are really being instructed about the different mission fields and definite lines of missionary work.

If there is one who has been hesitating until now about making his way to one of our schools, it seems as if he could hesitate no longer. For our schools, now as never before, form the avenue of entrance to that most glorious of all missionary fields—“the regions beyond.” Now while the way is so easy, while you are unencumbered with family cares and other responsibilities, while relatives and friends are ready to help you, while printing-offices and sanitariums, private families and a hundred other facilities, stand ready to co-operate with your efforts to secure the necessary preparation, how foolish to neglect the opportunity! Only those who have seen the overburdened worker in foreign lands, laboring under every disadvantage, physical and

mental, to get hold of a little knowledge, can appreciate the pitifulness of such a neglect.

Here is the great family of Spanish-speaking fields in which we are particularly interested. In Spain and the two Americas with their dependencies there are seventy-five million souls to whom this language appeals.

Enough has already been done among them to show that the old idea about the Latin races and their incapability of appreciating spiritual things was largely erroneous. Many of their ways and characteristics are commendable and lovable. They are refined and courteous, and have an overweening love for the beautiful. Naturally their language conforms to the ideas they wish to express. While it does not seem capable of expressing the heights and depths attainable in English and German, it is flexible and musical and easy to acquire.

From among these people are being developed acceptable workers for their fellow countrymen. But places of responsibility, such as develop with the growth and organization of the work, will perhaps always demand workers bred and schooled from infancy, so to speak, in the message, such as are to be found only in Protestant lands. Three such men are now being sought right here in Buenos Ayres—men of education, men who can be depended upon, men who are willing to forsake all. And what is true of this field is true of others. Pastors, doctors, nurses, teachers, Bible workers, and bookkeepers—those who are prepared to take up different lines of work, are in demand all over these destitute fields.

“The call of God is sounding clear. O Christian, let it reach thine ear! His Word of life to all make known, Be this our work, and this alone.” MRS. S. R. TOWN.