How Shall We Meet the Demands?
By Arthur G. Daniells
If there is any theme that should stir the hearts of Seventh-day Adventists, it is that of foreign missions. We as a people have been raised up to give a warning message to the world, and as soon as it is closed, Christ will come and reap the harvest of the earth. It is the purpose of God that this work should be done in this generation. Centuries ago he revealed this great threefold message and this time to his prophets. For at least a century God has been shaping the affairs of the world for the proclamation of this message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in this generation. One hundred years ago he brought to an end the supremacy of the papal church. That marked the beginning of the “time of the end,” and “the day of his preparation.” At that very time men began to explore, as never before in the history of the world, all the countries of the earth. This work, always attended with great expense, suffering, and loss of life, has been prosecuted with astonishing vigilance, until, at the present time, every habitable spot of the earth is known, and every nation has been brought into the full light, and under the searching gaze, of all civilized peoples. At the same time that some men were seized with an uncontrollable and daring spirit to explore the world, the minds of others were turned to inventions and discoveries. These men have worked with the patient, persevering, penetrating research of invention that has entirely changed the conditions of all civilized nations. The marvelous changes wrought by the application of steam and electricity, the use of the printing-press and other modern inventions and discoveries, have enabled civilized nations to place themselves in close and sympathetic touch with every part of the earth. And while explorers and inventors have been pressing forward with great energy in their lines of work, missionaries and translators have been following close upon them, entering the lands they have discovered, and using the facilities they have invented. The explorer, the inventor, and the missionary constitute a wonderful combination. They have been mighty agencies in the preparation necessary to give this message as described in the book of Revelation. And this work is7committed to Seventh-day Adventists. It was about twenty-five years ago when Elder J. N. Andrews—our first missionary to leave the United States—crossed the Atlantic for Europe, and located at Basel, Switzerland. He was soon followed by Elder J. G. Matteson, who went to Scandinavia. Not long afterward, Elder J. N. Loughborough went to Great Britain. In 1885 Elder S. N. Haskell sailed for Australia, and a year or two later Elder D. A. Robinson went to South Africa, and a few years later to India. In those early days, we as a people knew very little about the fields to which these missionaries were sent. Those who entered them had everything to learn on the ground. No one knew anything about us or our message. Consequently, no one asked for our services. But a great change has taken place. We have become better acquainted with the world, and with the history and conditions of nearly all nations. We have placed living messengers in their midst. The message we have taken to them has touched responsive chords in the hearts of many. This has opened many avenues for service that we did not see when we entered these fields, and the result is that there are now most earnest and pressing calls for this message from every part of the globe. The steps we have taken place us where we must take more. The messengers we have sent have created a condition which demands that many more be sent. This is true of almost every country outside the United States. What we have done in India lays upon us a fearful responsibility. We have there many open doors that must be entered. Bombay, Madras, Burma, and other parts of that great land must have help. Professor Shaw, who has charge of the work in India, sees the great need so clearly that he offers his salary to any one who will join him in prosecuting the work. What stronger evidence can we have of the desperate situation, than this? But the needs of India are not more pressing than those of many other countries. The Mission Board has recently taken up this question with great determination to send faithful laborers into those distant fields, and the Lord is adding his blessing to this effort. He is awakening the hearts of our people in America to the situation, and is making hundreds willing to go. This is especially true of our young people, and it is to our young men and young women that we must look for the army of laborers required to finish the work. Our young people are strong, active, quick to learn, and they readily adapt themselves to new conditions. Our experience thus far in placing young men and young women in mission fields has been most encouraging. Many of them have developed into the strongest workers in our ranks, and they are to-day bearing the chief responsibilities connected with our missionary campaign. We believe there are scores of young people in the home land who are just as promising as those who have gone abroad, and have proved themselves most efficient and valuable workers. Experience in our missionary operations has taught us some things of value. One of the most important lessons we have learned is how to establish small training-schools in mission fields. Twenty years ago Elder J. G. Matteson conducted such a school in a little room in Copenhagen. Among his students were young men who are now bearing weighty responsibilities in the Scandinavian department of our work. Elder Matteson had no regular schoolhouse, no faculty, and but few facilities. But he had the third angel’s message burning in his heart. He had some realization of the value of education, and knew how to lead these young men to obtain it. The results of his humble efforts were greatly blessed of God. At the present time an important school is being held in London. It is a training-school for Christian workers. There are seventy students in attendance. Sixteen of these are young people who have gone from America to that country since last August. Some of these are putting in what would have been their last year in Union College. Others are adding a year to their school course. While attending this school they are becoming acquainted with the customs, manners, and dispositions of the British people. This is an invaluable part of their education. When the school closes, they will be much better prepared to work in Great Britain than they were when they arrived in England. A similar school, although much smaller, is being held in Paris, France. It is the policy of the Mission Board to have such schools established in India, Japan, China, Italy, Egypt, and other countries. Men are being placed in charge of these fields who have been connected with our educational institutions. It is believed that they will prize education, and know how to develop its interests.