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All for a Purpose

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 29, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 5.

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All for a Purpose

By G. C. Hoskins

THE art of printing was brought to its present high state of perfection at this time for a specific purpose. It was no chance occurrence. The great Jehovah had in mind the needs and the times.
He saw his children, few in number, as compared with those to whom they were to proclaim his message; his hundreds of ministers, too, but far too few to reach the masses in ignorance of his plans for their future; and his churches, too scattered to accomplish all that is demanded in such a gigantic undertaking. He saw his missionaries in vast foreign fields of teeming millions, unable to cope with the enormous problems that confront them; and the great cities, with their seething masses, whose lives seem too strenuous for them to listen to the living speaker. He saw armies of young people, not trained for preaching, but real Gideons and Jonathans, when armed with proper weapons; and his children, willing and anxious to do something in enlightening the world as to his soon coming and the glorious triumph of his kingdom, but timid of action and slow of speech.
He saw it all, and knew that every believer, high and low, rich and poor, old and young, would need help; would need a coworker,—something that every one could cooperate with; something that could supply the lack in number, in speech, and in activity; something that would equip all as living preachers of talent and power.
He saw it all, and brought forth the printed page by the million. And now our most intelligent speakers can, in a few minutes, speak the word; the press, in a few minutes more, puts it in the hands of our people in printed form, and they for only a few cents can place the words of life in the homes of the people. What an agency!
"The great and wonderful work of the last gospel message is to be carried on now as it has never been before. The world is to receive the light of truth through an evangelizing ministry of the word in our books and periodicals."—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX, page 61.
"Our publications should go everywhere. Let them be issued in many languages. The third angel's message is to be given through this medium and through the living teacher."—Id., page 62.
"Our books and papers are to be brought before the notice of the people; the gospel of present truth is to be given to our cities without delay."—Id., page 63.
"When we follow plans of the Lord's devising, we are 'laborers together with God.'"—Id., page 86.
"And one of the principal agencies he has ordained for our use is the printed page. In our schools and sanitariums, in our home churches, and particularly in our annual camp meetings, we must learn to make a wise use of this precious agency."—Id., page 87.
"Let the workers go from house to house, opening the Bible to the people, circulating the publications, telling others of the light that has blessed their own souls. Let literature be distributed judiciously, on the trains, in the street, on the great ships that ply the sea, and through the mails."—Id., page 123.
"Our publishing work was established by the direction of God and under his special supervision. It was designed to accomplish a specific purpose."—Id., Vol. VII, page 138.
Let us value this precious agency, and plan a large place for it in quickly closing up the work given us to do.
G. C. Hoskins.