The Missionary Campaign
By W. A. Spicer
Slowly just now the re-enforcements are going into the field. Owing to the lack of means, the Mission Board has been compelled to delay some contemplated moves; but nevertheless we can report progress. Brother and Sister W. E. Floding are just off for Samoa, and Elder W. H. Wakeham and family have just left for Egypt. Dr. S. A. Lockwood and his wife will soon be sailing for Japan; and Sister Cora Blodgett for Natal, South Africa, where she will engage in school work. We thank God for the movement toward the field this month. The hand of Providence is surely pointing toward the lands abroad, and we are glad for the cheering word that comes from all the conferences to the effect that the hearts of the brethren are stirred by the Macedonian cry. There is no doubt whatever about it: the quickest way to finish this work is to fling out our battle line until it stretches in thin ranks around the whole world, as Gideon’s band surrounded the camp of Midian. The quickest way to finish the work at home is to share our blessings with the still more needy fields abroad. The brethren in Europe, in council with representatives who went over from America, have cut down their calls to the lowest possible figure; and yet they asked for an addition of eight thousand dollars to the appropriation of last year. Even this makes their request for twenty thousand dollars truly a modest request, as they face the five hundred million souls to be reached by the European Union Conference.
Then again, from all the other fields the cry comes incessantly and yet patiently, for re-enforcements and for means by which to press the battle. And we at home are glad of it, of course. We are at the base of supplies, and there is a battle going on at the front. The more rapidly great fields are opened up, the more earnestly must come back to us the demand for re-enforcements. If we did not hear the call for fresh supplies and for men, we might be disheartened. As it is, we must plan to meet the needs with all good courage. The necessity of delay in pushing the work on account of the lack of means adds one sad thought to the death of our Brother F. J. Hutchins down in Colombia. He had been looking for a helper—a fellow minister to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, to help bear the responsibilities. Help had been voted him; but, owing to the straitened situation during the summer, it was not possible for the Mission Board to send a man. Brother Hutchins had the word that help would come as soon as possible, but he had to lay down his life without seeing the comrade who should have reached the field, and been ready to catch up the standard falling from his hands. The Bible gives all authority for likening this work of ours to a campaign and army; and truly we are engaged in a battle for God and for right and for the souls of men that means something very definite to every one of us. Those who go into the fields must be ready to lay down their lives, and at the least must be ready to lay everything they have in the world upon the altar of service. This is their reasonable service. But those who go are no more called to give their lives to the service of the Lord than those who stay. The man whom God calls to work on the farm or in the shop may know that he will share in the glorious victory, just as much as the man who goes to India or China, if likewise all is laid upon the altar of service. It is a blessed privilege that every one of us may have to be a factor in this campaign. The Spirit of the Lord is truly stirring the hearts of the people, and our regular offerings have been increasing more equally this year. It is the many littles constantly flowing in that must keep the steady stream flowing in blessings out upon a ready world. In order that all might be reminded of the need of this constant remembrance of the mission fields, the Mission Board has been sending out weekly offering envelopes. We give herewith the design upon the envelope. The Mission Board is prepared to supply these envelopes to the churches, so that regularly every Sabbath they may be given out and collected. If in every church this practice is systematically followed, there is no doubt whatever that the offerings for missions will be three times what they are at present. For Jesus’ sake, and for the sake of souls that are waiting for us, and for our own souls’ sake, we must be faithful in this matter; for the need is so urgent and so great. And we all know so well that giving for the cause we love is not a duty, but a joy and a delight. Let us first give our own selves to this work, as the only business in life, whether preacher, farmer, mechanic, or housewife, and then let us pray for it constantly and work for it, until this grand message is sounded in every tongue on earth. It can all be done so quickly, if we but rally as one man, and keep constantly praying and acting. We urge the trial of this envelope idea among the churches. We must never forget for a moment that we are living in the most thrilling time that the world has ever seen, and in this grand message of preparation for the coming of the Lord we are engaged in the most blessed work that has ever been committed to mortals. W. A. SPICER,
Secretary of Mission Board.