THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 11, 1878

“THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE.”

By Dudley Marvin Canright

When the war of the Rebellion commenced, it was supposed that about seventy-five thousand men would be sufficient to quell it in three months; but a call for these was only a beginning. Fifty thousand, and a hundred thousand, and then two hundred thousand soldiers were called for by the government; and so call after call came fast, one upon the heels of another, until finally, after a heavy draft had been ordered, President Lincoln made cowards tremble, and traitors shake by his memorable call for “three hundred thousand more.” When this call was made, every one knew that it meant business. So it has been in our work. The message was first proclaimed by half a dozen inexperienced men of poverty. It was thought, even then, that the work would be short; but how little we dreamed of its magnitude. When the number of our ministers had increased to twenty, and we had two or three tents in the field, and had one small paper, it was thought the work was well under way, and that the loud cry might soon be expected. But alas! how limited were our ideas of the work.

For years we supposed our main dependence must be simply upon our preachers, and that there would never be an opportunity offered for our brethren to labor in the cause except as preachers. If brethren could not preach, the only thing left for them to do was to earn money and give that. But how rapidly circumstances are changing in this respect. Now there are openings for labor in this message in more than a score of different directions. If a person has not the ability to preach, he may be a good tent master, or singer, or Sabbath-school teacher, or secretary of a tract society; or he can teach in our school, or work in our Office of publication or in the Sanitarium. If he can do none of these things, there are still plenty of things he can do. In fact, there are so many different branches of the work rapidly springing up, which require ability, education, and consecration, that it is with the greatest difficulty that men and women are found capable of filling them, or, at least, who are willing to do it.

The time was when there seemed to be no openings for ambitious young men and women who were Sabbath-keepers. It looked as though to keep the Sabbath was to shut them out from all prospect of any useful employment. They could work on a farm, and that was about all. It did look like a forlorn hope. In our heart we have pitied young Sabbath-keepers, because there were so few openings for usefulness before them. But these days are past. Indeed, they never existed. It is seen now that if the young men and women among us, a dozen or even a score of years ago, had devoted themselves to this work, had given themselves to the cause, and had stored their minds with useful knowledge, they might now have filled important places, and been of invaluable worth to the message. But some did not have faith enough then to believe that, and now they find it too late to learn.

Probably each year will increase a demand for talent, for earnest laborers in this message. Look for a moment at what is needed even now, and what will it be in the near future?

1. Preachers. What urgent calls, what rich harvests, what inviting openings, are everywhere presented for live preachers to carry this message! In the East a great change is seen in the public sentiment. In the South the most promising fields are everywhere inviting our laborers. Europe, England, Scotland, Australia, and even Egypt are calling for help. Oh that we had fifty devoted men to give them immediately; but we do not have them to spare.

2. Tent companies. Every year proves more clearly that proper persons can greatly aid a preacher in giving a course of lectures. They can furnish good singing and instrumental music. They can help him in praying and exhorting, in visiting from house to house, in reporting for the daily papers, in getting up handbills, and in various ways they can promote the interest of the meetings. Not only can brethren engage in this work, but intelligent, devoted women can, in many cases, do more even than men. What an opportunity for sisters to do missionary work, if they only will. And, evidently, this work will grow upon our hands, and this class of persons will be more in demand. Who is preparing for it? Some persons make a faint effort to obtain a place, and because they are not successful give up in despair. These persons are not of the right material, or they would not give up so easily.

3. Tent masters. Experience shows that a good tent master is a very valuable aid in tent work. Tent masters can forward or hinder the work greatly. If they are what they should be,—sociable, devoted, energetic, stirring, and attentive to their business,—they will do almost as much as the preacher. Who of our young men are preparing for this work?

4. Canvassers. Where we have one canvasser in the field, we ought to have fifty. Not only can this work be made to pay financially, but it is a very convenient means of spreading the truth. It is a good school in which to learn. There is no lack of openings in this department.

5. Conference presidents. We already have seventeen Conferences, and every year must

form additional ones. The churches in each Conference are growing larger and more numerous. The business of the Conference is becoming more and more important; and every year shows that the prosperity of the Conference depends a great deal on the man at the head,—the president. Here is a position worthy of the highest ambition of any young man. It is honorable and useful. There is no lack of opportunity for a young man who has the real metal in him.

6. Directors. Here is another office of much importance. Every State must have from five to a dozen directors; and every year their office will grow more and more responsible. Where are the men preparing to fill these places?

And so we might go through the list of secretaries, librarians, Sabbath-school superintendents, Sabbath-school teachers, elders of churches, deacons, systematic treasurers, and church clerks. Any one of these offices requires a person of intelligence, of energy, and of culture. The more education he has the better. But these are only a small part of the openings. Already we have three publishing houses, and how many honorable positions of trust and usefulness are connected with each office. Beginning with the type-setter and ending with the editor, how many places are there between,—secretary, treasurer, foreman, proof-reader, &c. Our offices will be growing every year, and there will be wanted persons of ability to fill these places. Indeed, it is very hard to obtain suitable help now. And new branches are constantly being added to this work. At Battle Creek we have a bookbindery, which employs a number of hands, and this branch of the work is growing rapidly. Another branch has been added lately, namely, stereotyping. Proper persons must be found to fill these places.

Go into the College. There are no less than ten teachers employed there now; but the College is only in its infancy. Another large building must be added soon, and ten more teachers employed. From whence will they come?

Go into our Sanitarium. Here six doctors are already overworked. Others should soon be ready to assist them, as the institution is rapidly growing. And then there are many places of important trust besides that of the doctors. About forty hands are employed in the various departments of the Sanitarium. This number must necessarily grow larger every year. God pity those young men or women who stand with folded hands, complaining that there is nothing for them to do. A hundred persons in our ranks are working beyond their strength, and work for a hundred more is suffering to be done, simply because there are no persons of ability to take hold of it.

As we look at these things, our hearts are pained, and we cry to God to put the burden on somebody, and raise up individuals to help us in this work. The cause is actually suffering, and terribly suffering, for want of men and women of stir, of life, of energy, and education; persons who are not afraid to work and sacrifice; persons who are willing to commence at the foot of the ladder, are willing to do little things before they do great things, and prove themselves worthy before we trust them. The trouble is, there are plenty of persons who are ready to jump into the highest place and most sacred trust, without having proved themselves worthy, without having so much as properly filled the office of church clerk. Give them some little thing to do, and they will whine over it, find fault, and think they are misused. They are not willing to suffer any sacrifice. No; they must have big pay and a fine position before they will do anything. The Lord has no place in his work for such individuals; they may as well go somewhere else.

Let us get hold of this idea: If the work goes on five years more, there will be a call for ten men where there is a call for one to-day. The work has increased in this ratio in the past, and it will in the future. Indeed, it is quite probable that the time is not far distant when we will have publishing houses in England, in the Southern States, in Scotland, and even in Australia. Every one of these institutions must have gathered around it from a score to fifty devoted workers. None but the Lord knows where these persons will come from; but we are confident that they will come. He will find them. Will our young men and women sit still, and dream away these precious hours, and allow some one to come up and take their crowns? Now, brethren and sisters, it is time we waked up to these things. Time is short. The message is soon to close. What is done, must be done quickly. If you want a part in the closing work, don’t wait much longer. Get up early, stick to it late; study hard, crowd your moments full. Said the great apostle, “Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor,” and he acted as though he believed it. What a man of energy was Paul! what a man of work! What heroic deeds he wrought! How nobly he suffered! He believed what he said,—that he was to be rewarded according to what he did.

Many of us will wake up in the Judgment to find that we have lost splendid opportunities and infinite rewards, but that will be just a little too late.

“Three hundred thousand more!” Let them come. Who will be the first? The loyal citizens of the North in that time of trial responded, “Here we come, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more.” Shall we have a response to the Lord’s call for more volunteers in this great and closing struggle for God and the right? D. M. Canright.

State Center, Ia., March 20.