THE STRANGERS AT YOUR DOOR.
By K. Doi
THE song, "If you can not cross the ocean and the heathen land explore, you can find them nearer, and you can help them at your door," is a most fitting suggestion to us. There are thousands of foreigners here from all parts of the world, and we find many heathen among them who have never heard the Gospel of Christ. As it is said that in the last days people shall go to and fro to seek the words of the Lord, I believe some hungering souls are here at our doors in search of His words; and, if we should fail to aid in their search, it will be a great disappointment to them. It rests with us who have received the knowledge of God to impart it to them, and aid in their search. Yet it seems so little effort is being made, so little work is being done among them. In the oriental hemisphere there are millions of human beings who have never seen the light of the Gospel. One can not imagine how pitiable are the conditions in those darkened lands, unless he has been right there. Thousands upon thousands of sin-stricken souls are perishing without any knowledge of redemption. How pitiable, how sad a condition it is! Should they not be made "partakers of the divine nature"? Should not they be "fellow-heirs of the same body"?—Surely, they have an equal right with us in the Saviour's mercy. Christians, the strangers of those darkened lands are here at your door. Why not let them in, and tell them the story of salvation? Is it not a precious opportunity that we need not cross the ocean to find heathens? We can and should, even while at home, co-operate with our workers in foreign lands in the advancement of the Gospel of the last days. Our workers in various parts of the field are in great need of native workers, in order to reach the people more readily, and come into closer touch with them. Native interpreters and translators of our own faith are so much needed in every foreign field. How important it is, then, to work among those foreigners who are here in this country to prepare them for these needs, and also to save them. Our country has long been blessed with the light of the Gospel, and is known as a Christian nation; a great portion of its inhabitants have not yielded to its influence, and do not possess a Christian conscience. Such seem to think it a matter of patriotism to maltreat foreigners, especially when their skin is of a different pigment from their own. They should remember that they themselves were strangers in this country only a few hundred years ago. This reminds us that the Lord told the Israelites that "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." Moreover, are we not all strangers on life's journey? Whatever others may do or feel, the Christian must make it known that he considers his brethren his equals, no matter what the nationality; for do we not all have the same Father? If there was ever a time when the educating spirit of the Third Angel's Message was needed, it is now. Now is most high time to proclaim the last message to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Here is a splendid opportunity for our stay-at-home people who desire a part in the Lord's work. Let each one ask his own heart whether he shall undertake the work or shirk the responsibility. I pray that our brethren may become deeply interested in this work so dear to my own heart.