The true missionary spirit is the same in every age, but the plans of operation vary from time to time in the history of the world. If the faith of the people of God embraced nothing of especial importance, and if they had no definite object before them to accomplish, then they would need no definite plan of action, and no especial stir need to be made by them. In fact, they would have no business to go from city to city, and from village to village, and unsettle minds, break up former customs, and, as it were, turn things upside down.
But if God has spoken, and if they have a special message to bear, they must form definite plans of action, and enter zealously into the work which God has intrusted to them, and a stir must be made in the world. If God designs to arouse the world, it is folly to think that such a work is to be confined to one locality; for it must be world-wide in its proclamation, and corresponding plans must be laid for its advancement, that it may reach the different nations of the earth.
We, as a people, have a message to bear to mankind, the most solemn of any to be found in the word of God. Upon its reception or rejection depends the eternal destiny of the world. It is the last message of mercy to fallen man. And we have reached a time in our history when the cry like that from Macedonia, “Come over and help us,” is heard from the Danes, the Swedes, the Norwegians, the French, the Germans, and from other nationalities. The calls come from people of every religious denomination of the present age.
Those who are engaged in the work of the third angel’s message are in union with each other, no controversies existing among them. They bear the responsibility of a message which is designed to give warning of the near approach of the Judgment, and to show what is the necessary preparation for that event. Hence the question comes home with great power to us, How shall we meet the great responsibilities which devolve upon us? Shall we fold our hands and quietly sit down at our ease? And, on the other hand, if we give ourselves to the work, shall we enter into it recklessly and without any proper order of action, or any well-matured plan of operations? To act thus is to waste our strength and influence, and to insure defeat at every crisis. We have individuals among us of almost every tongue who have embraced the truths we cherish. As fast as publications on present truth are translated into other languages, we can, by means of a proper system of action which shall make the subject plain to all, take hold of this work as a people, and scatter the light of truth into every nation and people under heaven. The system adopted should embrace every nationality which we are able to reach, and our work should be embraced in one harmonious system.
Already has the truth found its way by those silent messengers, the tracts, not only to all parts of this continent, but it has gone to the countries of northern and central Europe, and to Australia, New Zealand, and to the most distant parts of the earth, and to the islands of the ocean. Wherever these have gone, an interest to a greater or less extent has been awakened. In some cases, companies of believers have been raised up to walk in the truth, and to obey it. These persons are earnestly calling for help.
Such being the result of accidental and disconnected effort, how great a work can be accomplished by us when the thousands now believing the present truth shall be prepared to act in unison like a well-disciplined army, and under a proper system of action shall respond to every opening of the providence of God, for the advancement of the cause of truth! They can thus in the most effective manner put forth their full strength for the advancement of the truth.
The advantage of giving a tract or of sending the REVIEW to your friends is very great in the case of those who have a combative or arguing spirit. No matter how angry or excited those may be who read the tracts, they can never get up an angry or excited spirit in the works which they read. Each tract quietly and clearly tells its own story; and though the reader may get vexed many times, and even cast it aside with indignity, yet when he takes it up again, it will possess the same calm spirit, and in its clear and lucid manner set forth the precious truth of God.
We have a Publishing Association which furnishes reading matter at the least possible cost. Then we have the Tract and Missionary Societies which have been organized for the express purpose of placing our publications in the hands of every candid, God-fearing person in the country. We do not recommend scattering our tracts indiscriminately like the leaves of autumn. The system of the Tract Societies guards against extremes, corrects errors in the manner of performing the work, and gives instruction concerning the best and most successful methods of accomplishing the same.
The scattering of tracts is but one of many means to spread the truth. Our periodicals should have our special attention. Getting people to subscribe for them is in many respects more advantageous than it is simply to place tracts in their hands, except in such cases as demand an argument upon some particular point. It is proposed to send the REVIEW on trial at half price for the ensuing volume, which will bring its cost at 50 cents for the volume. Every one who loves the present truth should therefore interest himself to send the REVIEW for the trial volume now about to commence, to such persons as will read it with some degree of candor. Think of your friends far and near, whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa. We can reach men with the REVIEW wherever they read the English language. This trial volume of the REVIEW will accomplish the following purposes: 1. It will very fully acquaint those who receive it with our views of Bible truth. 2. It will give them an acquaintance with our history and work for six months. 3. It will give them fresh and varied reading each week for that period. 4. They will get an amount of reading matter equal to 2000 pages of tracts, and at the cost of only 50 cents.
Let the Tract and Missionary Societies see what they can do. Thousands of worthy persons within the bounds of our several Conferences might be found within a short time, who would be interested in reading the paper. Many of them would become permanent subscribers and eventually be led to embrace the truth. A fund should be raised for the purpose of sending out the REVIEW in this manner. Every individual who pays 50 cents is entitled to send the REVIEW to one person, those paying $5.00 can send it to ten persons, and so for any number. The business should be done with the director of each Tract Society district, and the money be paid to him. The Society will assume all the risk of loss of money after it is once paid to a director, and will do all the necessary labor in the forwarding of the names and money and the transaction of the business connected therewith.
Another part of the missionary work is to care for the poor and needy. See Deut. 15:7-11; Mark 14:7; Matt. 25:34-40. This care for the worthy poor is an important part of pure and undefiled religion before God the Father. Oftentimes, to help the poor to help themselves is the best assistance that can be rendered. We should not wait until they come to our doors, begging for assistance, but we should look them up and should take an unselfish interest in their welfare. Thus we may be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame, a father to the poor, and the cause we know not, search out. Who feels the burden of this work and realizes that it is labor for Christ? We do not say, Take the burden of all the poor that can be found. The Saviour says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” and in Matt. 12:48-50, the Saviour defines who are his brethren. See also Matt. 10:40-42.
The names which have been dropped from the lists of our periodicals have been sent to the several Tract Societies for their consideration. The president of each Society should see that these are put into the hands of the several directors according to the residence of the person, and the director, or some suitable person employed by him, should visit each such person in his district, and learn whether they are poor or not, and, if possible, get them to resubscribe. This should be promptly attended to. This kind of labor will require a sacrifice of time and means. But is it not a privilege to sacrifice for Christ’s sake? Each director should acquaint himself with every individual member of the Society in his respective district. He should pray with their families, understand their necessities, and as far as practicable relieve those that are in distress, and if necessary report their cases to the board of directors for action. He should also see that all are paying Systematic Benevolence, and that all are subscribers for our periodicals, and that all take a part, if possible, in sending the REVIEW to their friends on this trial volume, and that they all participate in every good work.
The act of writing letters adapted to benefit and help those who are in temptation and to lead the inquiring to Christ and the truth, and the sending of tracts by mail is also a means whereby much good can be accomplished. No idle spectator should be found in the ranks of the people of God. We should stand as minute men on picket duty, ready to fill any opening, or perform labor in any sphere of action, so that we may be the means of spreading the light of that truth which is to prepare men to stand in the last day. The work of the Tract Society brings into the field every man, woman, and child, and gives them all an opportunity to exert an influence in behalf of the cause of God.
Young ladies who understand the hygienic system of treating disease, and who are possessed of the true spirit of consecration to God, may enter families which are in distress, such at least as are in some measure worthy of care, and may, by their effort in their behalf, not only relieve their distress, but also lead them to the sacred truth of God. We have those among us, who are conscientious, God-fearing persons, whose deportment would recommend the truth, who might in a judicious manner accomplish a noble work in this sphere of action. This has already been demonstrated in several instances.
The true missionary work is simply the practical development of every principle of the Christian religion. It is disinterested benevolence exemplified in every walk of life. It is to have the heart drawn out for others, and it is to possess a willingness to lay down our lives for others if we may thereby save men and honor God.
It is not therefore the design of the Tract and Missionary Society to personally benefit the individual members by supplying them with reading matter for themselves. Those who join the Society merely to procure reading matter for their own benefit have not yet imbibed a particle of the spirit of this work. People should never be invited to join on any such consideration as this, for such a motive is purely selfish, and utterly opposed to the true missionary spirit. May God save all the Tract and Missionary Societies from this poisonous leaven of selfishness, and may we all feel the importance of possessing that love in our hearts which cannot live without laboring to benefit and save others.