A Review of the Field by W. A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 24, 1904

A Review of the Field

By W. A. Spicer

W. A. SPICER

(Reading for Thursday, December 15)

Not many years ago a week-of-prayer reading could outline very much in detail a year's progress in other lands. Now we could scarcely consider a month's advance in such a reading. The message is speeding on. It is fairly startling to watch its shining way over land and sea; for when its glory floods every land, the work is done. Truly did the prophet cry out concerning this time, “I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Rev. 18:1. The glorious progress of our own work is fulfilling this prophecy before our eyes.

Last week of prayer we had a splendid year's work to review. This year has exceeded that in reports of the wonderful blessing of the Lord in the regions beyond. Never before has the Lord's providence seemed to so thrust us forth to add new peoples and new tongues to those rejoicing in the third angel's message. Surely the message has the point where every year is to mark great progress toward a finished work. What we have seen in the year just passing is enough to set the coldest heart ablaze. “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

“Awake! again the gospel trump is blown, From year to year it swells in louder tone, From year to year the signs of wrath Are gathering round the Judge's path; Strange words fulfilled, and mighty works achieved, And truth in all the world both hated and believed.”

Whether amid good report and quietness or amid evil report and tumult, the truth has triumphed. Nothing can stop it. Why, it was this year, in Russia, that one or two of our brethren, sentenced to prison for seven days, were released before the time was up—fairly turned out of jail in haste—because they were converting other prisoners to the truth.

Europe

In the last two years, in Europe, believers have been added at the rate of over fifteen hundred a year. It means the equivalent of a fair-sized conference added every year in this one division of the field.

MACEDONIAN POSTAL CARD TO MISSION BOARD, BRINGING THE MESSAGE AGAIN, COME OVER AND HELP US. RECEIVED IN 1902. NO WORKER THERE YET

There is an impelling power hovering over the fields to-day. As we review hastily this year's work, we shall see that it seems as though wherever the feet of our workers touch, Sabbath-keepers at once spring up. The time of the loud cry has come, and God's Spirit is leading men in all nations to search after the truth. I heard in Wales this summer of five men in a mining village, who felt the need of a revival of spiritual life. They saw deadness and formality everywhere, and longed for a new experience. They began to meet at five o'clock in the morning on the mountainside, to join in seeking God for light.

At the time of our Welsh general meeting four of those men were rejoicing in the “blessed hope,” and the fifth was under deep conviction. Honest hearts are praying to God for this truth, and in the pressure of this closing hour, they want it now. It is at the peril of our souls that we draw back, or go forth with slow and heavy feet to carry the truth to these waiting ones. The spirit of prophecy has given us a view of praying ones all over this earth, upon whom rays of light are shining from heaven to encourage them to continue seeking until the heralds of the final message can reach them.

Russia is still one of the most difficult fields. But how courageously our brethren are pressing on! You have heard how this year one brother in Middle Russia was beaten to death, and the houses of our people in the place burned to the ground. Men, women, and children fled over two hundred miles to find refuge with another community of believers. But is the work stopping?—Not a bit of it. At our general meeting in Friedensau a minister was present from Middle Russia, who, within three months, had baptized one hundred and seventy-three souls. I heard one of our workers from South Russia tell the German brethren, in ringing tones of conviction, that he would rather have the bonds and the hardness in Russia that make for spiritual liberty among the believers, than to have the liberty and ease of other lands that make for spiritual bondage and apathy.

But we can do little more now than speak of new fields and first-fruits of the message. So we shall organize an all-round-the-world social meeting, and let our brethren abroad bear testimony. Elder Conradi says:—

Europe sends greetings, and the message of Acts 16:9: “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” There is a pressing call now for a faithful minister to labor both in Macedonia and in other parts of Turkey. We need a man for Greece. Servia is waiting. We have begun successful work among the Servians in Hungary.

So the Servian tongue is added this year, and in May our first Slavonian company was organized in Hungary. Now the ancient Slavic tongue praises God for this message. Every year, for some time, we have sent copies of our readings for translation into German, French, Danish, and Swedish. This year Brother Huenergardt called for advance copies of these readings to be translated into Hungarian. We have over two hundred and twenty believers in Hungary. Our first baptisms are reported in Spain, and, if I am not mistaken, in Rome, also. Portugal is entered by Brother and Sister Rentfro. Now

only Greece and several Balkan principalities remain unentered in Europe.

From a prison-house in Turkey, his family scattered, his fellow workers in prison with him, Brother Baharian sends his message of trust and courage:—

My future is unknown to me, but God is my light and my guide. Thanks to him forever.

“Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me; The changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see; I ask thee for a present mind Intent on pleasing thee.”

Our love to you all. Pray for us, that the truth may be glorified.

Working away in far Tiflis, on the Persian border, Dr. Pampaian adds this testimony:—

Our souls are stirred to do something to help this people. Pray for the Caucasian field.

Africa Waiting

From darkest Africa come messages of good cheer as the work moves on. Yet, O, the wide extent of the regions still beyond—waiting in darkness to catch the first ray of those gleams of the golden morning which gladden our eyes! waiting—

“For the happy beam of day That shall chase their gloom away, For the news, so glad and blest, That shall set their hearts at rest, For the peace we know and prize, And the hope beyond the skies— Waiting! waiting!”

When the natives of the Garenganze region, just beyond Barotseland, first heard of the message of salvation, they greeted it with the clapping of their hands for joy. Brother W. H. Anderson has lately pioneered the way into the Barotse country, and secured grants of land for a station. The king of the Barotses long ago called us to this work. Now, while at home on a short furlough, Brother Anderson is planning to enter Barotseland next spring—if the necessary means can be found. He sends his greeting for this service:—

DEAR BRETHREN IN AMERICA: Greeting. Our courage in the Lord is good. We are pressing the battle to the very gates. The Lord is blessing the efforts, and souls are embracing the truth.

Our need: King Khama's call in behalf of the Bechuanas must not be left unanswered. Native Natal must be entered. The work must be opened in Barotseland. I quote from a letter just received from a native Barotse:—

“My heart greatly rejoices to hear that you are raising money for the Barotse Mission. I pray God daily that he will help my people on the Zambesi. My ears rejoice to hear that my people are to have the truth. I shall be happy indeed when my eyes see the missionary go there. I cry daily because my people are sitting in darkness. Brethren in America, send a missionary to my people. Christ is soon coming. I know he is coming quickly. O, help my people on the Zambesi!”

Brethren, we must respond to these calls. We must raise eighty thousand dollars this week of prayer for this work in the “regions beyond.”

From our busy training station, near Buluwayo, South Africa, Brother M. C. Sturdevant sends the reaper's cry:—

The harvest ripe? you ask. It is dying, and falling, and wasting to be gathered. O, who will come over and help us?

Alone still on the Gold Coast, Brother J. M. Hyatt bears this testimony:—

We are sure the time is not far distant when God will do a mighty work for this dark country. It is certainly true that we can hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.

Within a white fence beneath the trees in distant Cholo, is a grave that marks our way into the Nyassa country, the land of Livingstone. A board nailed to a tree trunk at the head of the little mound tells that here our Brother J. H. Watson, aged thirty-three, awaits the day when a shining company from dark Africa will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Elder W. S. Hyatt has lately told of the good work Brother Branch and family are carrying forward here, with their native helpers. Elder Branch sends word:—

We are well, and of good courage in the work of him who said, “Go . . . and teach all nations, . . . and lo, I am with you alway.”

Having made a round of the missions, Elder Hyatt returns to the Cape with his soul mightily stirred by the signs he has seen of the opening providence of God before us in Africa. He sent us, on his arrival at Delagoa Bay, a good testimony for our world-wide social meeting:—

Brethren, my heart is stirred when I think of these multitudes. Surely the Lord is preparing some of these people to receive the third angel's message. I am stirred as I think of the thousands of Zulus and Kaffirs [in the colonies] who have been taught a knowledge of the Saviour; and then to think that we have done almost nothing for them! When I get among our churches, I shall urge our conferences to receive as a heritage this native work in their midst, without waiting for funds from America. To this end I am praying and believing, and will soon be laboring. I feel a deep interest in this native work. My wife feels the same. It is this that led us to leave our home. Time is short. We want to do our little in helping to give this truth to “this generation.”

This call is sure to meet with response from our colonial brethren. Elder H. J. Edmed, president of the Natal and Orange River Conference, our newest African conference, says:—

The time has come when there must be “delay no longer,” and I wish to live in that spirit every day of my life.

In passing from Africa, remember that this year marks the planting of a new and vigorous mission in German East Africa by our German brethren, who truly have done a quick work.

India, Ceylon, and Burma

Did you ever hear of the Canarese language, spoken by about ten millions in southern India? Brother Shaw reports that a Canarese brother is translating articles and tracts and issuing them in that language, at his own charges. Brother Shaw adds:—

I do not know when anything gave me more inspiration than these tracts so nicely and neatly printed. I quote the following from this Canarese brother's letter: “We have but a short time to work for the Lord, and to give the message for this time to the world; for the coming King is surely at the door. We must give the trumpet a certain sound, and tell the people to prepare to meet

ದೇವರು ಲೋಕವನ್ನು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಪ್ರೀತಿಸಿದನು, ತನ್ನ ಒಬ್ಬನೇ ಮಗನನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟನು; ಆತನನ್ನು ನಂಬುವ ಯಾವನೂ ನಾಶವಾಗದೆ ನಿತ್ಯಜೀವವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದುವಂತೆ ಆತನನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟನು.

JOHN 3:16 IN KANARESE

their God.” Such work as this by a man who has never seen one of our people shows clearly that God has people in preparation to carry this message, and unless we arouse and do the work, others will be raised up to carry it forward.

In Burma native brethren have been translating and issuing tracts also, and Brother Shaw tells how he was “moved to tears” as they pleaded with him to send some laborer to help them and to lead them. The first baptism is reported at our mission among the Santals, in western Bengal, one of the hill tribes of India. Brother W. A. Barlow, a missionary who received the truth in India, has been working among them. Thus still another tongue joins the chorus that is soon to swell into the triumphant song of Moses and the Lamb. In Ceylon's isle still another tongue has this year been added, and Brother Harry Armstrong sends the pleading message:—

O, how I wish we could have more workers here, and some means to enable us to open up public work on a scale worthy of the message we have to give!

And now at last we have occupied one of the most strategic posts in the world. The Polynesian Mission has located Brother G. F. Jones and wife in Singapore, away down in the Malay Peninsula, a region pioneered years ago with our books, by Brother H. B. Meyers, of India. The Missionary Review of the World speaks thus of this great seaport, with its quarter of a million people, set on the ocean highway to the East:—

Here, more than in any other city of the world, mingle “all the families of the earth.” Let one stand for one hour at any important street corner, and a panorama of humanity will be seen—British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swiss, German, Scandinavian, Russian, Austrian, Greek, Turk, Armenian, Syrian, Persian, Arab, Parsee, Hindustane, Gujeratee, Punjabee, Bengalee, Tamil, Telegu, Malabar, Singhalese, Burmese, Siamese, Anamese, Javanese, Sudanese, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese,

the negro, Ethiopian, Moor, Somali, etc.

Island Fields and South America

From the far East Indies to the West Indies we now turn. Brother G. F. Enoch, secretary of the Caribbean Conference, bears testimony:—

I am sure our dear brethren and sisters in America who have given for the work in the West Indies would feel amply repaid could they but see the army of workers now rallying to the call. Provision has been made this year to enter the French and Spanish portion of our field, and for the publication of literature in the Negro-English, or “talkee-talkee,” of Dutch Guiana, and in the Hindi language. The laborers in this field, each one toiling under a heavy burden in a trying climate, desire an interest in the prayers of God's people.

Porto Rico has gathered its first-fruits this year. Cuba is entered. Brother and Sister I. E. Moore have pioneered the way as nurses. Brother Moore sends this message from Havana:— It is time something was doing for this field. Perhaps other fields are in need, but here is an open door where nothing has been done—no colporteurs or field missionaries in the country. Let some one be sent.

From South America, Brother J. W. Westphal, the general superintendent, sends his testimony:—

We are of good courage in the Lord, and our faith that the work can and will be finished in this generation increases.

Brother Juan McCarthy, laboring in Argentina, reports one hundred and thirty new Sabbath-keepers during twelve months. He says: “Surely we are experiencing showers of the latter rain.”

Elder H. F. Ketring, on the Chilean coast, cries out:—

Calls are coming from every direction. O that we had still more laborers! Here is an extract from a letter sent by a young man away back in the interior who desires baptism:—

“Dear brother, no one visits us here, no one enlightens us, no one explains to us, neither do we understand what we should do.”

Ecuador is entered this year, and we have thirty Sabbath-keepers in Peru, with no settled worker to lead them.

Brother C. H. Parker reports from the Fiji Islands: “We see and feel the Lord's Spirit brooding over this people.”

Truly the set time is come, and God is finishing his work; he is cutting it short in righteousness. Our eyes are seeing it done, and what we do we must do promptly.

The Far East

Brother Munson sent his native helper, Timothy, from Sumatra to Amoy, China, to study the dialect much spoken by Chinese in the East Indies. There he kindled the light, and we have heard Brother J. N. Anderson's call for some one to go into that new province and among Chinese of a new dialect, in order to guide and lead Sabbath-keeping believers who are springing up. In urging the pressing need of re-enforcements, Brother Anderson sends this greeting in behalf of the Chinese workers, for whom God has wonderfully wrought this year, in blessings and deliverances:—

Fathers and brethren in the Lord, at this annual season of prayer, as the hearts of his people are unitedly ascending to God, the members of the China Mission greet you on behalf of the millions of this vast empire. Our hearts are filled with grateful emotions as we recall the many blessings and leadings of our Father, whose promises have ever been yea and amen from our first arrival until the present time.

Surely somebody must go to that new province of Fukim, with its ten million souls, and lead these Amoy believers in service. Yet for several months the mission treasury has been helpless to extend the work, and laborers ready to go to needy fields have been held back. But deliverance must arise, and some one must go.

“And ye who can not go, O! help With the wondrous weapon, prayer; While ye uplift your hands at home, The cross shall triumph there. And give ye freely of your store To the warriors in the field; The more you give, to you the more Barrel and cruse shall yield. And remember while thou lingerest, The voice of thy brother's blood; A million a month in China Are dying without God.”

From one more land only can we hear to-day. Many another voice would speak of progress and good cheer if time allowed. It is hard to shut out the testimonies, for how grandly the glorious truth is speeding in all the earth. But here is Korea, the “Land of Morning Calm,” now stirred with war's alarms. Yet here the light of the third angel's message was kindled last summer, and, as Brother Field writes, it is “spreading like a blaze.”

A traveling Korean passed our meeting hall in Kobe, Japan. He saw our meeting sign, partly in Japanese and partly in Chinese characters. There was the name “Seventh-day Adventist”—the denominational name which our fathers were told by the spirit of prophecy would convey a message in itself. The Korean hesitated a moment to study the sign. A Japanese brother who saw him from within just then signaled to him to enter. Thank God for that thoughtful signal on the instant; for this Korean—already a Christian—received the truth, and started the blaze in his own land. Then the pleading word came back to Japan:—

Dear brother, when you read this, hasten to take a boat and come to us. In your letter you wrote that you can not understand our language; but if God is with you, why need you fear?

So Brother Kuniya, whom the Lord this year so clearly delivered from military service, went over to Korea. Then Brother Field followed. Now there are four fully organized Seventh-day Adventist churches in Korea, about one hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers, and still the message speeds on. Brother Field wrote of the method of work:—

Brother Kuniya talks the little Korean that he has picked up, and what little Japanese the Korean brother knows, with an occasional English word. When words fail, he writes on a slate in Chinese characters. Then Brother Lim-ki-pan speaks to the inquirer in good Korean. Under such conditions the truth has gone as it has.

Here is Brother Field's testimony sent as he was on his way back to Japan, having decided that a Korean brother must be left in charge, and that the Japan Mission must assume an oversight of the work until help can be sent. He says:—

Brethren, this message is let loose in Korea, and of this we have increasing evidence. We surely ought to have help for this field. I turn the situation over and over in my mind. I ask myself, Will the brethren think we have gone beyond our sphere in thus starting the work in this entirely new field, with another language to deal with? Will they think us hasty in completing the organization of these little churches in so short a time? But we have counseled and prayed over every step taken, and have tried to leave it as best we could till other hands can take it up. But that raises the question, Will it be likely to stand without loss if we leave it?

What do you say, brethren and sisters? These Koreans have put away tobacco, they are planning to build churches and to establish church-schools. Shall we blame our brethren in Japan for going over to their help?—Of course not. Yet we have come short of supplying Japan's own bare necessities, and they have almost nothing to divide. But surely the funds will roll in to answer these calls from the four quarters of the earth. To hold back and give little when

we might give much is like a man with a store of life-preservers coolly throwing one now and then among a struggling mass of drowning people reaching out their hands for help. The work is now to be finished. Christ is at the door. Now we must keep our sins forgiven. We must get ready to live in heaven with the Lord and the holy angels, as members of that white-robed throng made up from every nation and tribe and tongue and people. What a privilege to throw into this work every power of our being, and every resource that we can command. The way to a finished work lies through the regions beyond, and over the barren fields showers of the latter rain are now falling. Thank God that we live in such a time as this.