Prepare for Service by W. D. Burden

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

Prepare for Service

By W. D. Burden

In any country those who have the oversight of the army and navy, the fighting forces of the nation, watch with jealous care the development of their young people. This is not because of their great love for, and interest in, the welfare of the youth, but because they know their value, yea, absolute necessity for replenishing the rank and file of the fighting forces.

Just so every organization, if it is to continue prosperous for any great length of time, must look well to the care and training given to its young people. As I look back over the history of this church, I am compelled to ask, Where are the men who bore the burden of the work a score or so of years ago? Thank God, a few of them are still spared, and are nobly fighting on; but all who have watched the progress of present truth for that length of time, know that the working force has largely changed. We regret that a few have turned from their allegiance to the truth and cast in their lot with its enemies. God pity them. But of those who have not proved unfaithful many have finished their work, won their crowns, and been laid to rest to await the coming of the Life-giver. Others, while still with the living, still helping much by their counsel and cheer, are bowed beneath the burdens borne in earlier years, and now find it necessary to husband carefully the little strength still left them. The number of these older ones in active service is comparatively small. Their places have been filled by younger men, and still the change must go on. Some of those in responsible places to-day may be called to lay down their burdens; and where are the men to fill their places? They must come from among those still younger, and God grant that men may be found prepared to do as noble work as have those who preceded them.

If there is one thing more than another to cause us sorrow to-day, it is to see our young people who ought to be entering the work, drifting into the business of the world, and too often, drunk with the things of this life, drifting entirely away from the truth. Then, too, more astonishing than all else is the seeming (I don't know but the adjective should be left out) indifference of many of the parents to this danger to their children. Many parents who themselves seem to love the truth show little concern that their boys and girls are drifting away into the world, so long as they are doing well financially and “going in good society.” O that God would open our eyes to the needs of the fields just beyond!

Here in Japan, with her fifty million souls, and only just a handful of workers to teach them, we have a more opportune time for working than ever before. The common people are discouraged and disheartened over the results of the late war. Their arms were successful in battle, but many is the home that lost its support and stay in the conflict, while thousands of the pick and flower of their youth were sacrificed in the fray. And now the people feel that they are nothing better off than before. Disappointed in temporal matters, they have been led to look to religion for their consolation. Buddhism and the other native cults hold the people in bondage and fear, but they do not satisfy their soul longings, so they are glad to listen to the gospel of Jesus.

But where are the workers to go and teach them? I pray God to lay the burden upon our youth, and their parents also, till our training-schools shall be filled, that hundreds may be trained and sent out to answer the crying need of the hundreds of thousands of these Eastern nations.

W. D. BURDEN.