Editorial by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 26, 1914

Editorial

By W. A. S.

For the Love of the Truth

At a recent meeting of representatives of Protestant missionary societies in North America, we were impressed anew with what the love of this "blessed hope" prompts the little flock of Adventist believers to do for the missionary cause. It is not that we can look back with self-satisfaction and a feeling that we have done what we should have done. Every believing heart would cry out against this. We can only look forward to yet greater things that must be done by the grace of God and his enabling providence. Yet the statistics of missionary giving by all the societies, presented at the New York meeting, bears a testimony to the power of this truth that may well lead us to thank the Lord and take courage for yet greater things. The latest statistics of missionary giving were presented at the conference, and from this printed report we select the list of ten largest givers, as followers: —

Presbyterian, North .........$1,800,000 Methodist Episcopal .......... 1,500,000 Baptist ...................... 1,100,000 Congregationalist ............ 1,048,000 Woman's Methodist ............ 837,000 Protestant Episcopal ......... 823,000 Methodist, South ............. 790,000 Presbyterian, South .......... 637,000 Southern Baptist ............. 580,000 Seventh-day Adventist ........ 444,000

At first glance, it seems hardly possible that Seventh-day Adventists should come just here in the list, following the denominations that number their membership by the million or more. But there we are in the plain figures of the statistical report. In membership we are among the least of all, but in gifts for the missionary cause this denomination ranks among the largest.

It is all for the love of the truth and the urgency of the closing work. No human appeals could ever rally a few thousand people to accomplish these results year after year. It is the appeal that comes from heaven itself. And the basis of the response is the conviction, fixed by the Spirit in believing hearts, that this advent movement is born of God, that this third angel's message is

the truth of God for this time, and this people the remnant church of God, according to the sure word of prophecy, called into being for just this purpose of carrying the last message quickly into all the world. W. A. S.