THE AFRICAN MISSION AND OUR SABBATH-SCHOOLS.
By Stephen N. Haskell
AT the late General Sabbath-school Association, held at Battle Creek, it was recommended that the Sabbath-schools support the mission which is to be established the coming year in Africa, donations being sent quarterly to the treasurer at Battle Creek. This is not an untried move, different from anything that has ever been done before; California inaugurated this movement, and her Sabbath-schools were the first to contribute money to the Australian Mission. The Lord blessed the schools in this. It gave them the missionary spirit such as they never had experienced before. It was thought by some that to set before the schools some special missionary object would tend, after a little, to decrease the donations, but it proved decidedly otherwise. The contributions nearly doubled. The friends felt a deep interest in the work in Australia, and it not only united them in making sacrifices to help that field, but it united their hearts in prayer that God would bless the work there. And God did bless that mission; and while we have established missions in various parts, none have been attended with such prosperity as has the Australian and New Zealand field. It is evident that God heard the prayers of the people, and accepted their offerings. It was then thought that, while the donations during the first quarter were so much in excess of the usual amount, the second quarter would bring a reaction, but the contributions of the second quarter were larger than those of the first; and so it has been ever since they began to give to the Australian Mission. Now the California Sabbath-school Association has voted to give $1,000 the coming year to the African Mission. They are also educating a missionary for New Zealand, who has been sent to this country by the friends in New Zealand. Thus the Sabbath-schools have a live interest in the missionary work. It has bound their hearts to that mission as nothing else in the world could do. It also had its effect upon those who heard the truth in Australia. When we related to one man who was not of our faith, how our money was raised by the Sabbath-schools of America, tears started in his eyes and he said, "We ought to help such a work as this if children in America could do this much." He immediately gave me $65 to help us. It had its effect upon those who embraced the truth. When they learned what the Sabbath-schools of America had done to send them the truth, they desired to do their part. The Sabbath-school in one place in New Zealand, has already given $50 for the foreign missions, and $50 to the International Tract and Missionary Society. But the question may arise. How much will it cost to sustain the African Mission? If we should set the sum at $10,000 it would be a small estimate for the first year's expenses. It would probably cost that much to establish the mission and pay the expenses of those who go. We cannot tell just what the expense of each individual will be, but very likely it will be about $200 each. So if eight persons should go, the traveling expenses would be $1,600. Then the expense of getting a start will be great. They will want to carry a large number of books and periodicals, and we think that in estimating the entire outlay in getting a foothold in South Africa, $10,000 is a very moderate sum. But how can this money be raised? Let us make a few figures, and see how easily it can be raised if all the Sabbath-schools in America take a part in it. There are over 22,000 names enrolled on our Sabbath-school records. Should each one of these scholars pay five cents a week, the donations for the first quarter of thirteen weeks would amount to $14,300. Now cannot our Sabbath-schools do this? In the first quarter enough would be raised to carry the African Mission through the year; and the second quarter would pay all the expenses of the English Mission; the third might be donated to the International Society, which is sending the truth to all parts of the world; while the fourth quarter's contributions might be appropriated to the opening of some unexplored field. But there are some schools in the southern part of the country, which are too poor to pay five cents per member. This can easily be made up by some of our schools in a more prosperous portion of the country. We suggest that in order to help these schools, those in the northern, eastern, and western parts of the country pay a dime a week, and in some instances even more than this. This amount can be easily raised, and still sufficient be left to furnish local supplies in the schools. Perhaps some of the children may ask where they can get the money. This can be readily arranged by doing errands, selling Good Health, canvassing for some book or periodical easy to work with, or in some way by which small sums can be earned, and thus all may take a part in the work of contributing. This will bring prosperity into the schools, and God will bless a sacrificing spirit.