A Sign of a Short Work by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 13, 1906

A Sign of a Short Work

By Arthur G. Daniells

I SOMETIMES wonder whether our people appreciate the full significance of the journeys our leading General Conference men are making to the uttermost parts of the earth. During the first half of the present year, Elder Spicer, the secretary of the General Conference, visited South America and Europe. At the same time Elder Evans, our treasurer, visited the West Indies. Just now, Elder Irwin, vice-president of the General Conference, is in Australia on his way to Africa; Elder Thompson, chairman of the Sabbath-school Department, is on his way to India; Prof. W. W. Prescott, a member of the General Conference Committee and editor of the REVIEW, is on his way to Japan and China, and Elder Spicer is in Mexico. The writer hopes to be able to visit Portugal, Spain, and Italy in the near future.

What does all this world-wide traveling mean? The distances are great, the expense is heavy, and the time required for the most of these visits ranges from six to eight months. Are these men off for recreation?—No, they are all very busy men, too heavily pressed with important work to take holiday trips. Have they gone to new fields to investigate conditions with the view of establishing missions later—No, this is not what has taken these men abroad.

These visits to all parts of the world are made in response to most pressing demands, and earnest, long-continued calls from the fields being visited. Brother Spicer’s visit to South America was a necessity. For many years a band of earnest, self-sacrificing missionaries had been toiling in that field. Hundreds of people had embraced the message, churches and conferences had been organized, and the educational, medical, and publishing work had been set on foot. The situation, the workers, and the people called for a visit from an officer of the General Conference Committee. Elder Spicer responded. He attended general meetings, met the workers and people, and joined them in organizing a South American Union Conference, and planning for a strong forward movement all through the field.

Precisely the same may be said regarding Elder Evans’s trip to the West Indies. Years of most earnest, patient, faithful labor had been given to the West Indies by a band of consecrated workers from the home land. Many had lost their health and ended their lives in that field. Three thousand believers had been raised up. The visit made by Brother Evans was a necessity. A West Indian Union Conference was organized, and plans were laid for a still larger and more progressive work in that field. In a few weeks Elder Evans, with others, will visit that field again to render still further assistance.

It has been twelve years since an officer of the General Conference Committee has visited Africa. During that time many changes have taken place. New missions have been established, conferences organized, and institutions set on foot. The officers of the South African Union Conference have steadily urged that a General Conference representative attend the biennial session of their conference to be held the first of January. Elder Irwin is on the way. After the conference he will visit the various centers of the field as far north on the eastern coast as Uganda. He will then proceed to Europe in time to attend the biennial council of the General Conference Committee to be held in Switzerland the latter part of May.

For a long time the workers in India have been calling for a visit from a member of the General Conference Committee. As Professor Shaw, the superintendent of the field, returns to India with a band of twelve or fifteen fresh workers, Elder Thompson is accompanying him to join in reorganizing the work and planning for advance moves. On his return he will visit Egypt, Syria, and Turkey in the Levant Mission field, arriving in Switzerland in time for the council.

The great needs of China, Japan, and Korea, and the marvelous developments that have taken place there, during the last two years press our missionaries to urge the General Conference officers to send a representative to join them in laying plans to meet the great and varied necessities of that field. Owing to the millions to be reached, the languages spoken, and the conditions that prevail in these countries, the task which our missionaries face is tremendous. Professor Prescott has been chosen by the General Conference officers to help them. He will visit all our mission stations in those countries, and

then meet the missionaries in a general council either at Shanghai or Hankow. It is expected that Brother Prescott will be at the May council in Switzerland.

Thus it will be seen that these long, expensive, and, to some extent, perilous journeys are being made in response to the demands of this cause which is now firmly established, and is rapidly developing in all parts of the world. It has altogether outgrown the land of its birth. It is now a world-wide movement. Our plans, and labors, and councils can no longer be confined chiefly to the United States. Every continent, and country, and important nation must be reckoned with now. This is why our men of widest and ripest experience and bearing the greatest responsibilities in this cause must go to the remotest parts of the earth from time to time. We can not appreciate the conditions and needs of these fields nor render the help we should without visiting them and making personal investigations. The time and money spent in this way are by no means wasted.

After these extended visits to all these countries, the General Conference Committee will come together in Switzerland next May for a council, with a fund of information that will enable them to do intelligent, practical work in behalf of these great fields. Surely the conditions which demand such world-wide travel, investigation, and planning in order to keep up with this rapidly developing cause, should fill our hearts with gratitude and courage. These are the most encouraging and assuring evidences in the world that the end of all things is at hand. God’s last message is being given to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Showers of the “latter rain” are falling in all parts of the earth. The gospel is being finished. We shall see the end.

A. G. DANIELLS.