An Appeal to Our Missionary Societies
By George F. Enoch
To-day there seems to be a lack of concentration, of working with a definite aim in view. We are wont to deal in glittering generalities. We read our books and our papers, the reports of our missionaries and their various calls, and in a general way are interested in all of them, and think we have a great missionary burden. The genuineness of this burden is shown by our self-sacrifice to help the needy fields. To test your missionary society, does it take some earnest plea from the overflowing heart of a burdened missionary whom you have sent to the front of the battle? Does the plea receive a ready response by the sending of re-enforcements? or does it arouse your sympathies for a passing moment, after which you pursue the even tenor of your way, leaving him who looks to you for help to bear the brunt of the battle made heavier by your neglect, and perhaps to fall beneath the load? Those who are out in the front ranks do not look back to the peace and pleasure of home, and long to be there. Once they have tasted the sweets of self-sacrifice and toil for Jesus, their hearts are in the front ranks. They do not desire to be elsewhere; but it is encouraging to them to know that re-enforcements are behind, supporting them, and ready to step in should they fall in the battle. So let us appeal to Seventh-day Adventist missionary societies everywhere to go to the Lord with the various calls coming from all parts of the world, and ask him to place upon them a burden to do something definite in response. The situation in Port of Spain should appeal to us to do a definite work. This beautiful city of sixty-five thousand inhabitants is a most interesting mission field, as English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and East Indians are found here in large numbers. We have done much for the work here; two of our veteran missionaries lie buried in the public cemetery, and others have been called back on account of failing health. We have a company of more than one hundred believers, and yet we have no suitable place of worship. A few words of explanation might help us to understand the matter. The members of our church are from the humbler walks of life, and most of them have suffered pecuniary loss through accepting the truth, yet it is more precious to them than the pleasures of this life or the riches of Egypt. We are not sitting with folded hands, but are trying to erect a monument for God in this city. By little acts of self-denial and sacrifice we have raised here, since the first of January, one hundred dollars in sixpences and shillings. We are not weary, for we have found this work a pleasure; but while we are so slowly accumulating this money, time, precious time, is passing, and souls that might be reached if we had a suitable place of worship are passing into eternity. As an illustration of what is being done, I might refer to the work of our missionary society. We have been doing work on the envelope plan, carrying our readers through a systematic course of readings on the truths for this time. Over one hundred envelopes have been used each fortnight, and already we have evidence that good is being accomplished. When the volcano, within our very hearing, wrought such destruction, we felt that with pen and voice we ought to carry its meaning to the people. We had ten thousand tracts printed, and our brethren in all parts of the island carried them to the people, selling them for one cent each. Not only was enough realized to cover their cost, but already fifteen dollars' profit has gone into the building fund. Then the coronation of Edward VII gave us an opportunity to speak of the glory of the kingdom of God, and talk of the power of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We accordingly had a ten-thousand edition of a coronation tract printed, and so enthusiastic was the response, that almost the whole edition was sold within two weeks. The word comes to us that a wave of speculation is sweeping over America, and that Satan is succeeding in tying up large amounts of money by holding out the hope of large returns in a few years. We only wish that every one could see such things as we see them. The storm of God's wrath will soon break upon the world, and destroy us with our idols. When one dollar invested in God's cause now will accomplish more than ten dollars in the near future, why do we tie up our money in worldly enterprises? Let us draw our money out of all things worldly, and deposit it in the bank of heaven, by investing it in God's cause. We are thankful for the donations already received for a church building in Port of Spain. From New York, Dakota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Oregon the donations have come, but there is not yet half enough. Which societies will make Port of Spain their definite burden until sufficient money is realized to erect in this city a fitting monument to the Lord? Let us all lift together just a little longer, then the battle will be fought, and the victory won, and we shall all unite our voices in the mighty chorus of praise at the harvest home.