WHO ARE THE MASSES?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 3, 1876

WHO ARE THE MASSES?

The Interior, in dealing with the question of how to reach the masses with the gospel, has the following:—

Who are the “masses,” so snobbishly referred to? One unfamiliar with the latest literature of cant might suppose “the masses” to be some sort of soulless, unintelligent creatures, not approachable by the ordinary avenues of language and reason. It would not naturally be inferred that reference was made to the great body of self-respecting artisans, laborers, merchants, and professional gentlemen, who are not church members. If there is any difficulty in reaching them, sufficient to embarrass the philanthropist, we do not know in what that difficulty consists.

“How shall we reach the masses?” Of course, the perplexed questioners are not themselves of the masses, otherwise there would be no chasm to bridge. If there is a great gulf between the gospel and the people, who created it? God did not, certainly; because he made of one flesh all nations, and provided the gospel for all who would accept.

Imagine Paul scratching his head with the tip of the pearl handle of his gold pen, so as not to disturb the graceful architecture of his barber, and writing to his fellow-apostle: “My Dear Reverend Doctor Simon Peter: How shall we reach the masses?” How such a question shrinks to its proper proportions when quoted by the side of the majestic words of the Master, deep and grand: “Go ye into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”