“SHALL YOUR BRETHREN GO TO WAR, AND SHALL YE SIT HERE?”
By E. A. Sutherland
This question is a significant one; for a great campaign is before us. Already the bugle call to battle has sounded. Shall your brethren go up to war while you sit still?
At a late meeting of the officers of the Lake Union Conference the needs of Emmanuel Missionary College were considered. Every man in attendance knew that God had prepared a way for the erection of the new college buildings. No one needed to suggest a plan; for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” would bring in means in abundance from men who would not otherwise help us. Elder Daniells laid the matter before each Conference committee. If on a certain day every man, woman, and child in this Lake Union Conference should begin the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” in a very short time thousands of dollars could be at our command for the erection of buildings.
The Conference committees are enthusiastic. Each State knows its quota of books, and has promised to dispose of them. Everybody is expected to canvass. This is the campaign. This is the reason for my question, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”
February 9 is the date decided upon by the Conference Committee for this effort to begin. On that date we, Seventh-day Adventists, old and young, ought to be able to shout the first notes of our jubilee song.
Last week I visited the Woodland Industrial School, at Bethel, Wis. This campaign was described to the students. I read to them extracts from the letter written about two years ago by Sister White. These are the words: “A general movement is needed, but this must begin with individual movements. Let each member of each family in each church make a determined effort to deny self. Let us have the whole-hearted co-operation of all in our ranks.”
A hush came over the school, and almost every student pledged to devote from one day to three months to the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” This was the response made by the youth. Shall fathers and mothers do less? Let us remember that a murmur now, that a word of unbelief to-day, will bring the same results as in the days when Israel stood before Kadesh-barnea. Courage then would have brought eternal victory. A faltering mind brought thirty-eight years of wandering in the wilderness. It is my opinion that we cannot afford to wander thirty-eight years. In fact, if this generation meets Christ, it is absolutely impossible to spend much time wandering.
Notice these words: “Every family that is converted is to act as God’s helping hand. Had every child for centuries in the past been trained to realize his accountability to God to do missionary work, what a change would be seen in the world to-day!” We need not spend time in regretting our own past experience, nor in lamenting because of past failures. To-day we may redeem the time for ourselves and for our children. How?—“Every morning and evening, sincere, earnest prayer should ascend from every family altar.” For what should family petitions ascend?—That fathers and mothers may unite with their children in this great campaign. It is important that all unite in this effort,—just as important as it was for Jewish fathers in Egypt to gather their children within the blood-sprinkled doors on that fatal night of the Passover.
Remember the date, February 9. Pray over it. Let it be the subject of conversation in your homes and at the daily meal. Answer the question, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?” E. A. Sutherland.
