p. 44 | GREAT BRITAIN by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 1, 1878

GREAT BRITAIN.

By James White

The united kingdom of Great Britain, embracing England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, besides Australia, New Zealand and many of the islands of the sea, is a vast field of labor. And the fact that the millions of people of these countries speak and read the English language makes them a better field of labor for American missionaries with publications in the English language than those countries where the French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Swedish and other languages are spoken and read.

We have missionaries in Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark and Egypt, and publications in the French, German, Danish, Swedish, Italian, Spanish and Holland languages. And already not less than one hundred thousand dollars has been raised to support these missionaries, to publish books and papers in these languages and to establish a press in Switzerland. But up to this date we have done but very little for Great Britain and those countries under her Majesty’s rule. Are we not making a mistake in neglecting Great Britain and those countries where the people speak our language, while sending American-born missionaries to those countries where they labor under great embarrassments in consequence of not being able to speak and write other languages as readily as their mother tongue?

We do not for a moment question the providence of God in sending Elds. Andrews and Bourdeau to Europe, and in the expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars as aforesaid. The fruits already seen, both in Europe and in America, fully justify what our American brethren have done. But in reference to what we have done for the people of other tongues, and what we have not done for Great Britain, may it not be said, in the language of the Master, “These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone”? Matt. 23:23.

The Seventh-day Baptists have a small church in London, Eng., W. M. Jones, pastor. Bro. Jones has published several numbers of a quarterly sheet entitled, The Sabbath Memorial. The S. D. Baptists sent Eld. Wardner as missionary to Great Britain, and for certain causes which need not here be named, division and discouragement came upon the few who observed the Sabbath, and Eld. W. was called home. The doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventists, through our publications and the brief visit of Eld. Andrews, had taken a strong hold of those who revered the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

Bro. Jones and Wardner circulated many of their and our tracts which have had their influence to prepare the way for more consecrated and efficient labor by an experienced American missionary. And as there is a general expectation among the discouraged few in England and Scotland that we are to send them help very soon, the present autumn is evidently the time to strike. We therefore earnestly recommend that Eld. J. N. Loughborough attend our General Conference the first of October, and that he be sent to Great Britain by the Conference. We also recommend that Bro. Joseph Smith, an Englishman by birth, who has spent several years at the Battle Creek College, go with him. There are two others from Battle Creek, now in Switzerland, who were born in England, who could labor as missionaries in connection with Eld. L. to great advantage.

As publishing can be done in England much cheaper than in America, Eld. L. should commence immediately on his arrival to re-print our tracts and smaller pamphlets. And if there are reasons for raising ten thousand dollars to establish a press in Switzerland to publish in other tongues, tenfold stronger reasons exist for the establishment of a press in England to re-print our works in the English language, that they may be circulated throughout the united kingdom, and wherever her Majesty’s rule extends.

A few years since, the opening of a mission to Australia received considerable attention from our people, and C. C., of San Francisco, Cal., pledged one hundred dollars; but no missionary has been sent for the reason that that province is not the place to commence. When the work is fully established in England, a thousand avenues will be opened to scatter the light throughout Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and to the islands of the sea. Let the one-hundred-dollar men get ready. If Eld. L. goes to England the coming autumn, we shall see the press established there in less than two years. This should be done under the supervision of W. C. White before his return from Europe.

There are now in the ranks of S. D. Adventists thousands who were born in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, who have tens of thousands of relatives and friends they left behind when they came to America. When a mission shall be opened in Great Britain, then will be the time for these to correspond with their friends, to send them publications, and call their attention to what is being done in their own land.

The doubting Thomases may think this too great a work to be accomplished in so short a time; but they should understand that we as a people have ever been behind the opening providence of God, as we evidently are in reference to a mission in Great Britain. And let it also be borne in mind that but few have seen the necessity of “broader plans” until those plans have been laid and been put in successful operation.

When Eld. Canright was with the writer in the Rocky Mountains five years since, our mind was greatly exercised relative to publishing on the Pacific Coast. Here we wrote certain articles entitled, “Broader Plans,” and as we stated our plans touching the establishment of the press in California to Eld. C., he gave close attention to every word until we had finished, then replied in substance as follows:—

“Well, Bro. White, that sounds well to the ear, and I shall be glad to see it, if it is ever accomplished; but I do not see how it is possible. It will take a long time to accomplish so great a work. It has taken more than twenty years to establish the REVIEW Office at Battle Creek, Michigan.”

This was the discouraging view taken of the matter by one of our most energetic fellow-laborers, who has ever been among the very first to second immediate action for the execution of plans on a broader scale. But the work that has been accomplished during the past five years in the incorporation of the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association at Oakland, California, according to the laws of that State, with a capital of $40,000, embracing lots and publishing buildings in the very heart of Oakland, Cal., the most beautiful city on the globe, and now having a population of forty-five thousand, has exceeded our expectations and plans a hundred-fold. In the brief period of five years a business has been built up that calls for two large cylinder presses and four job presses to do the outside book, music and job work, besides the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, which has a circulation of nearly 10,000, and our own book work. We have also added a complete bindery. And very recently we have added electrotyping, stereotyping and the manufacture of the Scotch type, which has been in use both at Battle Creek and at Oakland since the Pacific Press has had an existence. More has been accomplished in establishing the Pacific Press at Oakland, and in building up the cause on the Pacific Coast during the past four years, than was done at Battle Creek in establishing the REVIEW AND HERALD Office and in building up the cause everywhere in a quarter of a century.

Time is short; and as the time draws near for the great work to be cut short in righteousness by the “loud cry,” and the 144,000 to be sealed, waiting for the coming of the Son of man in glory to gather his people who have made a covenant with him by sacrifices to carry forward enterprises for the advancement of the cause, work will be executed in a single year which took a quarter of a century at the beginning of our work.

Therefore, in view of the shortness of time and the wide door that is opened before us by the providence of God and the rapid increase of the work, it must be evident to the friends of the cause that a mission should be established in Great Britain immediately, and that before 1880 the press should be in active operation in England with a capital sufficient to do as complete business in the line of printing and binding as is now done at Battle Creek and at Oakland.

We close by saying that in view of the great work before us, and what God has done for us in the past, and the confidence we have in the willing hearts of our people to furnish the necessary means, we have full confidence in the accomplishment of this good work within the time aforesaid, and may God add his blessing, and put into the hearts of his people the spirit of Caleb and Joshua. “We are able” by the help of God to enter upon this work “at once,” and with his hand upon us to accomplish it in his good time.

This subject will be laid before the General Conference for the action of that body when the matter will be more fully set before the friends of the cause, and pledge papers will be circulated for $100,000 to be paid in installments before the first day of January, 1880.

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

JAMES WHITE, Chairman.