OUR HELPING HAND MISSION.
By Editor
The Resolution and the Action.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, held May 4, 1897, the following preamble and resolution were adopted:— WHEREAS, There is great demand and plenty of room for mission work among the submerged and needy classes in our large cities; therefore, Resolved, That we would approve of work of this kind being inaugurated and carried on under the auspices and name of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES MISSION, if the incoming directors on fuller consideration consider it to be in the order of the Lord. At a session of the State Conference held on the camp-ground in Oakland a few weeks later, a large number of the brethren from all parts of the State being present, the resolution was again formally indorsed. Now the Board of Directors, having given the matter a much “fuller consideration,” do “consider it to be in the order of the Lord.” So certain are they that it is high time to “go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind,” that they have set about to transform the resolution into practical action. To this end they have called to their aid Brother B. F. Richards, who has made a success of this kind of mission work in the worst parts of Chicago. He is now on the ground, looking up locations in San Francisco and Oakland for work on the same lines. But all this is only preliminary. There is something else needed, and that is money. While the SIGNS OF THE TIMES assumes the financial burden of rents and running expenses, there is necessarily a large outlay for fitting up such an establishment. There must needs be meeting-room, dining-room, bath-rooms, kitchen, reading-room, bedrooms, etc., which must be especially fitted for the work. Now who will esteem it a special privilege to help in this initial expense, and do it at once? The SIGNS OF THE TIMES desires its friends to share its blessings. The command is to “go out quickly.” But, urgent as is the command, there must first be the place to which we can bring in those who are in need of immediate help, and those who can not be brought under the Gospel call in any other way. The publishers of this paper are assuming a very heavy burden, but they do so believing that it is the Lord’s work, and that many readers of the paper will be glad to help, at least to give the enterprise a start. It is proposed not only to do evangelical work, but medical work; not only to reform men spiritually, but physically. There are many “rough jewels” down in the slums of the cities, who have been brought down by oppression, by misfortune, and by drink. Who will help to raise them up, to cleanse them, and set them upon their feet, that they may be fitted for a place at the Master’s table? The good work is going on in many places, and the demand for it is increasing from year to year. Send all donations of money to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Be sure to state that the donation is for the Helping Hand Mission.