Educated Ability in the Mission Field by J. L. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 1, 1906

Educated Ability in the Mission Field

By J. L. Shaw

Young men and women of education and training are needed in the mission field. It is a mistake to think that workers with a meager training can do as efficient work in the mission field as those who have taken time to get a preparation for their work. Our field is the world, and the hardest corners need the most skilled labor.

A poor farm requires a trained farmer in order to get the best results. It requires a sharp ax to cut a knotty tree. The same ax which haggles the tree when dull, cuts clean when sharp. It will take time for our young people to get a training, but it will pay in the end.

In India we have the educated classes and the uneducated masses, and trained minds are needed to carry the light of present truth to each. It is no light undertaking to learn an Oriental language, requiring, as it does, anywhere from two to seven years. Is it not reasonable that the very best ability among us should be given to this work? As a denomination the time has come to lay siege to these tongues as never before, and some of the brightest and best-trained minds among our people should consecrate themselves to this work.

One secret of the success of Carey, Judson, and Morrison was in giving themselves, in the beginning of their work, to a careful study of the languages of the people for whom they expected to work. The study of a language of a people leads the worker to understand, as he can in no other way, those for whom he expects to labor. As the bright minds of our young people surrender all they have to God, and train and prepare themselves for the work in these hard places of the earth, our missionary work will go forward as it has never gone before.

We have recently visited educational institutions at College View, Mt. Vernon, and South Lancaster. It is an inspiring sight to see so many young people getting ready for the Lord's work. After being in the mission field and going through the crowded cities, where multitudes of people are in heathenism without the light of the gospel of Christ, it is an encouraging sight to turn and behold hundreds of young people whose desire is to go and carry the truth to these benighted people.

Again and again while in India, as we have looked into the faces of men and women who know not God, and have seen them prostrate themselves before idols of wood and stone, we have said, How can this sea of people receive the message for this time? Our hope lies in the young people among us; and it has been a great pleasure and source of inspiration to us to visit these different schools, and come in touch with earnest young hearts who are preparing themselves for the work.

But let us encourage them to be thorough, that they may be workers needing not to be ashamed. At the present time in India there should be those who have the ability to learn a language, studying some of the prominent tongues in that field. There are the Marathi, Gugerati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telegu, Kanarese, and other languages spoken by millions of the people who have no representative of present truth among them. Should not some of our best-educated young people turn their eyes toward these different nations?

Should not strong and devoted men and women, having a love for souls and an ability for learning languages, go to India and study these different tongues, and become able to translate or help in translating the truth into the languages of these people, so that the message can quickly go to those who are able to read? We feel sure that as this plan of effort is carried out by the blessing of God, the march of our mission work in India will be more rapid than in the past.

J. L. SHAW.