A Short Work by Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 3, 1906

A Short Work

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS gather courage day by day from the assurance God has given that he will do a short work in the earth. Those who count on this promise see many evidences that it is being fulfilled, but it is more than probable that very few of us fully realize how fast the Lord is finishing his work. That which took a long time to accomplish a few years ago is frequently brought about now in a very short time.

On March 7, 1906, Elder F. L. Perry wrote me a letter from Lima, Peru, South America. I received this communication April 2. Brother Perry says:—

There is no English school in Lima; yet there are a considerable number of English families here who want their children to learn the English, and also do not wish to send them to the Catholic schools. There are also a large number of children, youth, and men who desire to learn English.

One man, an employee in the post-office, whom I met for the first time to-day, wanted me very much to teach him English, and promised to come to my Bible readings. He said he had twelve friends who wanted to do the same.

I do not feel free to do much of this work, but I do believe that a good work could be done and a strong influence exerted for the truth. I shall present the matter to Elder Spicer, but as you go over the field, you may be able to find the right persons (a man and his wife, I think best) who would undertake this work.

We are willing to share our home and living with such ones until a start is made. They should have diplomas from some reputable school. This will give them standing here. I am much interested in this matter, for I believe it will be a success.

In thirty minutes after reading this request for help, I had a letter written to the principals of several of our schools. The principal of the Fernando College, located at Fernando, Cal., received the one addressed to him, Monday evening, April 9. He wrote:—

Your letter was received on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning I presented its contents to the students, after we had made a special call for a meeting of the Young People's Society. I read your letter, as well as the letter from Brother Perry, to them, and took an expression as to what our attitude should be toward this call from Peru. It was unanimously decided that we accept it as a call from the Lord, and at my suggestion a committee on selection of candidates was chosen, which included four teachers and four students. Feeling that it would be helpful to all those concerned, as well as to the Mission Board, to raise the means for paying the transportation of the workers that should be chosen, I told them of a plan that we had carried out at Healdsburg last year in raising means to secure a tent for Ceylon, and made a motion that the Young People's Society shoulder the burden of raising one hundred dollars for this purpose. This was carried, and

I called for volunteers to have a part in the gathering of the means, and twenty-five persons responded.

We printed letters, setting forth the call, and also the response on the part of the students, to use in local work, and also in sending it to friends who would be interested in this work, and who could solicit funds in their immediate vicinities. Copy of same is enclosed herewith. The students who volunteered to have a part in raising the money necessary were asked to meet that afternoon at four o'clock, and the committee on selection at six o'clock. At the four o'clock meeting much interest was manifested, and a fervent prayer made for the success of the undertaking. About fifty of these letters have already been taken by the students and used locally or sent to different parts of California. In the morning I asked the students to feel free to give me slips containing names of those who, in their estimation, would be suitable persons to take up the work in Peru. In order to give sufficient latitude to their nominations I suggested that we might select persons now in the school, persons who had finished courses here heretofore, or any other person in California who might be suitable. Before the committee on selection met, quite a number of names had been presented, and I asked the committee on selection, after prayer and a fervent seeking of God, to write out their own impressions. There were eight or ten names presented, but the persons finally chosen had the majority of votes from impressions that students and teachers had gained without conferring with one another. The committee was unanimous in their selection, and when it was announced to the school the following morning, we could see universal approval on the countenances of all present. However, it may be a matter of surprise to you that three persons, instead of two, were selected to go to Peru. It seemed providential that the very next morning the mother of two of these selected, came to Fernando from Los Angeles for a day's visit. They presented the call to her, and she was favorable to their accepting it. Her greatest desire is to have her children in the Lord's work, and she would not stand in their way in going to a foreign field, but rather encouraged them in their decision.

Now while we are impressed that these are the ones to take up this work, we will leave the matter with you and Brother Perry, and possibly Brother Spicer, for final decision. I will send a copy of this letter to Brother Perry, and ask for his immediate approval or disapproval. It is understood, of course, that our selection is subject to the ratification of all concerned.

I have thought considerably about the work in foreign fields, and have felt that many of our young people are lost to the cause by not being looked after and pressed into actual service by men in authority; and further, because the Mission Board does not have the means, we must do something to plan for self-supporting work. I believe that many young people would be in the mission field to-day if they had had some encouragement. We have many bright young people left in our school who, when they have finished their education, would be able to do good service in other lands.

The following note was written a day later:—

Since writing you yesterday, I have received some word from students who are raising means to help the three that we have chosen to go to Peru. They are so very successful that I would advise the Mission Board to select the persons that we have chosen. Those who are giving of their means also feel impressed that these are the proper persons to take up the work in Peru, and they are contributing liberally. From the present appearances it seems that one hundred dollars will be raised by the first week's work, people giving in sums of five dollars each. We believe that it will require between two and three hundred dollars to land the three in Peru, and we have now set our stakes to secure this amount.

I received these communications April 18. On the nineteenth these were placed before the General Conference Committee. In thirty-four days after Elder Perry wrote his letter, and eight days after that letter reached the General Conference office, and in one day after it reached Fernando College, the selection of teachers was made, and their transportation practically provided.

While this process may differ a little from that used in the case of Phillip and the eunuch, it is the Lord's way at this time, and it is effective.

The Lord has stationed his ambassadors in nearly all the countries of the world, to proclaim to them his warning message. As they see the open doors for service, they are to send back to his people their calls for help. If we at the base of supplies were as wide-awake and enthusiastic about this grand movement as we should be, the calls that come to us from these distant, needy lands would soon be answered. Let us pledge our all to God to unite with him in cutting his work short.

A. G. DANIELLS.