Timely Aid for Our Mission Fields by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 15, 1906

Timely Aid for Our Mission Fields

By Arthur G. Daniells

ANY one who will carefully weigh all the facts in the case must be deeply impressed and greatly encouraged regarding the interest that is being manifested by our people in the development of missionary enterprises in foreign lands.

This message, which started in such apparent weakness a few years ago, in the New England States of North America, is now being proclaimed the world over. This cause is firmly and permanently established in nearly all lands. Our missionaries are located and busy at work in every continent, every island group, and almost every government on the face of the earth. The unentered territory could be entered in a short time were we to make a special effort to do so. But we are not endeavoring to rush into countries merely for the sake of being able to boast of being there. We are going to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples, because we have a message for them. And we are endeavoring to go to them as the providence of God opens the way. This onward march can not stop until the earth is lightened with the glory of God as revealed in his message for the world at this time.

In harmony with this divine purpose, the interest of God's people in the evangelization of the world increases and broadens as the work itself extends. Every new mission established creates greater interest in all our missions. Every missionary who goes abroad arouses desires and convictions in the hearts of others to go. Every donation and appropriation given to missions leads to other and larger gifts. One year ago, at its biennial session, the Atlantic Union Conference voted to give its surplus tithe amounting to two thousand dollars, to the General Conference for foreign missions.

This thoughtful and liberal step has been followed by other union and local conferences until like appropriations have been made, amounting almost to fifty thousand dollars. The REVIEW of July 5 contained a list of these appropriations up to that date. The amount that had been appropriated at that time was $26,515.47. For the information of our brethren, we will here reprint that list with the gifts that have since been made:—

Atlantic Union Conference.. $2,000.00 Iowa Conference .......... 6,000.00 Maine Conference ....... 300.00 West Michigan Conference 4,150.00 Northern Union Conference 2,000.00 Central Union Conference .. 2,000.00 Pacific Union Conference .. 2,000.00 California-Nevada Conference .................... 1,000.00 Lake Union Conference ... 3,767.11 Southern California Conference .................... 5,398.36 Upper Columbia Conference 3,000.00 Western Washington Conference ................. 1,200.00 Minnesota Conference ... 500.00 South Dakota Conference .. 500.00 Western Oregon Conference 1,000.00 Nebraska Conference ..... 7,095.00 Kansas Conference ...... 1,000.00 Oklahoma Conference ..... 2,540.00 Missouri Conference ..... 1,000.00 Colorado Conference ..... 1,000.00 Total .................. $47,450.47

This list may not be complete, but it gives the facts as far as we have obtained them. It should be stated that this does not include the many thousands of dollars of tithe which the conferences are giving to support laborers that have gone from them to take up work in the mission fields.

By appropriating a portion of their surplus tithe to our general treasury these conferences have put their shoulders under the great load that has rested upon the General Conference for several years, and have made the burden much lighter during the past year. This has been the most pleasant and encouraging year for the General Conference officers, from the financial standpoint, that we have experienced for years. This splendid assistance has helped to greatly strengthen the forces in the mission fields. We thank our Heavenly Father for these blessings, and for the spirit of liberality thus manifest among his people.

A. G. DANIELLS.