A Significant Statement and Its Meaning by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 26, 1906

A Significant Statement and Its Meaning

By A. G. Daniells

I HOPE that every reader of the REVIEW has read with care the editorial in last week’s issue entitled “The Schools and the Mission Fields.” This editorial deals with a deeply interesting and a most important statement adopted by the educational convention recently held at College View. It is expected that this statement, with suitable comments, will be printed in all our leading denominational papers in all languages and countries. It will be printed on slips and distributed at our fall camp-meetings and among our churches. The reason for making such an effort to get this statement before all our people, old and young, is that it enunciates principles and presents a line of action of vast importance to this cause at this time.

If the principles set forth are sound, they should be clearly understood and fully accepted. If the suggestions are practical, they should be carried out enthusiastically. And if this is done, we shall see mighty conquests on the field of battle. Our great Leader will win glorious victories by his church. He will finish his work and cut it short in righteousness.

The results aimed at in this statement are so definite, so practical, so far-reaching, and so full of meaning to all who long to see the cruel reign of sin terminated, and the kingdom of God established on earth as it is in heaven, that I am venturing to ask the readers of the REVIEW to give the statement careful study under its natural divisions.

1. God’s Purpose for This Generation

We, a representative body of Seventh-day Adventist teachers and educators, assembled in convention at College View, Neb., June 29 to July 10, 1906, fully and firmly believe that the Holy Scriptures plainly teach—

1. That it is God’s purpose to finish in this generation his work in behalf of mankind.

2. That this will be done by the proclamation to all the world of the gospel as set forth in the great threefold message of Rev. 14:6-14.

3. That the proclamation of this message to the world will be made by the church—the Lord’s people—who are called out and developed by the message itself.

No generation in the past has faced such a solemn purpose and such tremendous changes as will follow the accomplishment of this purpose.

2. Our Schools an Important Agency in the Accomplishment of That Purpose

We also believe in the following instruction from the spirit of prophecy:—

1. That it is the purpose of God that through the excellence of the work done in our educational institutions the attention of the people shall be called to the last great effort to save the perishing.

2. That the primary object of our training-schools is to afford young men an opportunity to study for the ministry, and to prepare young persons of both sexes to become workers in the various branches of the cause.

These statements from the spirit of prophecy show the exalted and important place our denominational schools hold in the greatest movement among men. They are to train and equip men and women for the highest service that can be rendered by humanity.

3. The Scope of Education Required to Do a Complete Work

From the experience through which God has led us, we have found—

1. That in doing this work, the church must make use of varied lines of service, such as preaching, Bible work, writing, translating, teaching, medical work, colportage, Christian business management, etc.

2. That this work for the Master may be efficiently and acceptably performed, men and women should receive a definite, thorough education.

Every phase of gospel ministry is to be performed. Never has the church of Christ faced so many open avenues of Christian service as it does to-day. And never has there been a more pressing demand for men and women well trained for this service than there is at the present time.

4. Earnest Action Now Called for on the Part of God’s People

To-day we face a great missionary problem. Notwithstanding all that has been done to finish this work, there are still vast fields unentered, millions of men and women unwarned, and many pressing Macedonian calls unanswered.

In view of this situation, we feel deeply impressed that the time has fully come when we should put forth the highest efforts of which we are capable to place in the field the number of qualified workers required to finish the Lord’s work according to his purpose.

To this end we recommend that immediate, earnest, and continuous efforts be made—

1. To create a more intelligent and profound conviction regarding the field to be occupied and the service to be rendered.

2. To unite conference and school into closer and more sympathetic touch for intelligent, harmonious co-operation.

3. To press the demands of the fields more heavily upon the schools for the supply called for.

4. To inaugurate and carry forward a steady, well-grounded, persuasive movement, the great aim of which shall be to provide qualified workers for the work to be done.

As a people, we have, by the blessing of God, certainly done much in planting this message in the leading countries of the world. But greater conquests are for us. Greater efforts must be made. A great awakening must come to us. A wave of missionary devotion must roll over us. Our schools must be set on fire with the missionary spirit. A great missionary movement must be set on foot that will draw with an irresistible force all our young people into some definite phase of the work.

5. The Means Suggested for Such Action

That the above lines of work may become effective, we urge the Department of Education to take immediate steps to secure the sure and speedy realization of these ends—

1. By promoting a general, thorough, and continuous study of the subject of home and foreign missions.

2. By aiding all our schools to arrange a definite course of study of missions.

3. By encouraging school boards to provide suitable literature on missions for use in their schools.

4. By encouraging teachers to give the subject of missions more careful study, and to speak on the subject more frequently to the people.

5. By providing suitable articles regarding missions for all our papers.

6. By enlisting the co-operation of all the children, youth, and young people in the financial support of some teacher or classmate who leaves them from time to time for mission fields.

7. By stimulating home missionary work on the part of those who can not go to regions beyond.

8. By making our motto, “The Advent Message to All the World in this Generation,” a guiding, determining factor in the life plans and in the use of the time, money, and opportunities of our young people.

9. By leading all who can not go, to reckon themselves members of recruiting bands in behalf of their comrades at the front.

It is our hope that as a result of the endeavors here suggested the parents and children of this denomination will be greatly aroused. This is a very definite call to parents to consecrate their children to the work of God for this time. It is an earnest call to both parents and children to take immediate steps to secure the training necessary for the work God calls us to do.

This move now binds our schools and mission fields together more definitely and intelligently than they have ever been associated before. This will furnish our teachers with a new motive and stimulus for their work. This move should, and I believe will, fill our schools to overflowing this fall.

The General Conference Committee, to whom most earnest appeals come from all lands for consecrated missionaries, now calls upon the schools, which the Lord has had established for training the workers, to turn out more missionaries. A new era in our work has set in. Let all rejoice. A. G. DANIELLS.