Why We Should Help Australia
By Arthur G. Daniells
The cause of present truth in Australasia needs just now all the help we can bestow. The providences of God have been signally manifested in the rise and development of the message in this island continent of the southern seas. Special evidences of the presence of God's leading and guiding hand were seen in the opening of the work there by Brethren Haskell and Corliss. The Lord held Sister White, his servant, in that country ten long years. We shall never fully realize in this life the full value to the cause everywhere of her sojourn there. It is impossible for those who have been eye-witnesses of the experiences connected with Sister White's labors in Australasia to believe that all that took place simply happened. No one but the Infinite could have accomplished what has been done. The results might have been far greater had we all known how to co-operate fully with the Lord. Our failure to keep step with our Leader caused great delay to the work at times, and greatly added to the burdens of the Lord's overtaxed servant. When the needs of the cause in Australia were shown to Sister White, she repeatedly sent urgent appeals to the brethren and sisters in America, but there was not that liberal response that was required to place the work on the vantage-ground that the Lord had said it should occupy. I quote the following paragraphs from a decided message which was given Sister White during these struggles. It portrays the true situation; and, since we have never fully responded to its instruction, it is still applicable:— Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “I have spared your life to do my work; and wherever I send you, go, and I will send my angel with you. In no case should you be feeble in your request for the advantage of means. Wherever I send you, go, and speak my words. I will be thy mind, I will be thy judgment. All the advantages are mine. The means and facilities are mine, and there should be no withholding. Call for the means God designed you to have long ago. Hold up my banner. Give honor to no human instrumentality, but to God, that my name may be a praise in the earth. The Lord, he is God, and before him there is no other. My work in Australasia has been greatly hindered. Money has been used unwisely in America, in the great centers, so that there is distress for means to build up the work in new places. But go not forth in hesitancy. I will be with you. Ask of my people the means that should have gone to advance the work in the Australasian field, the new world to which I have sent you. “Those who stand in responsible places in the work need wisdom in regard to the best methods of proclaiming the last message of mercy to the world. I have a work to be done in Victoria, in New South Wales, in all the Australasian fields. Call for the means which ought to have been flowing there, where there are so few facilities to build up my kingdom, where it will tell the most in magnifying my name.” Again the light given me is: “The Lord has sent you to take hold of this work. What you have done in America under the direction of God is to be done in planting the standard of truth, and building up the work in Australia. In America they should know that you need to be supplied with the means required for the work. You have been too slow in calling for the help that is essential.” We might be years in advance if our brethren in America had stood unflinchingly to their duty, to hear and obey the word of the Lord. Let no more time be lost. You who have so many advantages, do your work unselfishly. It is God's work we are doing, and you will not find the work in your hands restricted, if you follow the will and word of God. Share your advantages with this field, that the work may stand on a true basis, and have the influence and character it should possess. Your minds may not now be prepared to see the importance of surrendering yourselves to do what ought to have been done when we were appointed to come to this field. You may not be able to see all the particulars involved in this request of God to impart. But the special work has been laid out, and you are called upon to do your God-given duty in our onward march in this country by furnishing us with facilities for our work. Christ's dignity and office work are in imposing such conditions as he pleases. His followers are to become more and more a power in the proclamation of the truth as they draw nearer to the perfection of faith and of love for their brethren. God has provided his divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our human resources are unequal. He gives the Holy Spirit to help in every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our minds and purify our hearts. He means that sufficient facilities shall be provided for the working out of his plans in this field. I bid you seek counsel from God. Seek him with the whole heart, and “whatsoever he saith unto you, do.” This earnest plea has never yet been fully answered. Some response was made at the time, but it was only partial. It has been a long time since a general call has been made for Australasia. Our people there are comparatively few in numbers, but they have an important work to perform. From the first they have needed some facilities for carrying on their publishing, educational, and medical work. Those who have accepted the truth, have worked hard and given freely of their means. They have given to the extent of heavy sacrifice. But having done all they could, there is still need of at least one good lift being made by our brethren in America. As far as we are able to discern the providence of God, now is the time to give this lift. After the long, heroic struggle of our brethren in Australia with the terrible drought and with other perplexities, a good, substantial offering at this time will gladden their hearts and strengthen their work. Let us, then, all make a special offering to the cause in Australasia, and thus minister to the needs of our dear brethren and sisters across the seas.