p. 11 | Review and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 46. (11/14/1912)

Family Worship

By Arthur W. Spaulding

Come, Let Us Live With Our Children — No. 7

Family Worship

ARTHUR W. SPAULDING

There is much need among us of a fuller observance of family worship, and there is much need of many improvements in the manner of conducting family worship. No home can be called Christian that does not observe family worship. Morning by morning the father, as priest of the household, should gather his family around him, to give thanks to God for his care, to ask in Christ’s name for the forgiveness of sins, to invoke God’s blessing upon the thoughts and deeds of the day. Evening by evening the incense of grateful prayer should rise to the throne of God.

Morning worship should be held before breakfast. “How appropriate it is for parents to gather their children about them before the fast is broken, to thank the Heavenly Father for his protection during the night, and to ask him for his help and guidance and watch-care during the day!”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 43. Before breakfast the mind is clearer and more able to grasp the meaning of the service. There is no cluttered table or untidy house for the angels to see as they come to bless the worshipers with their presence. To argue, as some do, that it is not so easy to get all the members of the household together before breakfast as after, is simply to acknowledge a lack of system and authority in the home. We can not be too scrupulous about cleanliness and tidiness in house and in person when we come before God. Because God will hear prayer when we are in rags and dirt, gives us no warrant for choosing such conditions in which to come to him. A man in rolled-up shirt sleeves, tousled hair, and muddy shoes is not a priest acceptable to God.

Make the worship season short. It is not necessary always to read a whole chapter. It is far from necessary to make long prayers. Sometimes I think good Christian men do not know what is a long prayer. But be sure the child knows. Take for brevity the model of the Lord’s prayer.

We should gather for worship quietly, reverently. To come in a bustle and a hurry, to be talking about common things up to the moment of opening the Bible or the song-book, is not pleasing to God. Fathers and mothers have a duty in this matter, to exemplify and enforce quietness and reverence. Let us teach the children, as well as ourselves, that we are coming into the presence of God. The atmosphere of the worship hour is not to be depressing, but it is to be quiet and reverent. Fathers and mothers, let us come up in this matter. There are few homes where this point is sufficiently observed.

During the time of worship our children must be taught to be quiet, in prayer to kneel with eyes closed. Fathers and mothers will find they can help their children to do this by offering short prayers. It is unjust to a child to require him to kneel for fifteen minutes in prayer, and keep quiet. One-minute prayers are far better. Leave the long prayers for the secret closet. But when this has been provided for, see to it that the children, even the smallest, are controlled, are quiet. This teaching must begin with the child as soon as it can understand anything. It is a shame to parents to allow a two-year-old child to babble in the midst of prayer, or to run about the room during any part of the worship. Having dealt for years with some of the most nervous, restless, and determined children, I know that any sane child can be taught to observe proper decorum. And it is painful indeed to see the laxity with which some parents treat this matter. It will take persistence to accomplish the good results, but it can be done.

Be sure that the child properly trained in family worship can also be controlled in church. For a father or mother to let a child run about in church, or to disturb the meeting in other ways, shows simply an incompetence as a parent; and to bribe that child by means of a cooky or an apple is scarcely a lesser evil. We need more of that pronounced authority of Abraham, who commanded his household after him.

But the chief matter to be considered in worship is to make it interesting and profitable. First of all, let us sing. Song is an integral part of worship. I believe that every household can sing, if there are no more than two to take part, and if they have no instrument to accompany their voices. And I believe that any family, once their attention is called to the importance of this matter, will make song a part of their worship if they have any real interest in the worship. A song at the beginning of the service, and a verse at the close, gives it a setting that unites it to the more impressive services of the church. I am sorry to find many young married couples who have set up the family altar, and who are well able to sing, neglecting this out of pure indifference. And there is a greater number of older people—perhaps more excusable—who do nothing but read, dryly, uninterestingly, a chapter from the Bible, pray, get up and casually wander out,—and call that worship! I do not say there can be no true worship without song, but I believe God expects song from those who can sing or who can learn to sing. “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Ps. 95:1, 2.

The father is naturally the one to offer the prayer. This need not be invariably the rule, but in large families it is seldom well to expect all the members to pray at morning worship. “In a sense the father is the priest of the household, laying upon the family altar the morning and evening sacrifice. But the wife and children should unite in prayer, and join in the song of praise. In the morning before he leaves home for his daily labor, let the father gather his children about him, and, bowing before God, commit them to the care of the Father in heaven. When the cares of the day are past, let the family unite in offering grateful prayer and raising the song of praise, in acknowledgment of divine care during the day.”—“Ministry of Healing,” page 392.

The evening worship hour may, if it is early enough, be made somewhat more of a study, but nothing tiresome should ever be allowed to come into it. In some cases it may be advisable for a short study period to precede the worship hour, and this study period may be more informal. The hour of the evening worship should be carefully selected. A mistake is made in putting it so late that all the children are sleepy and inclined to be cross. Yet there is difficulty in putting it early enough for them and yet late enough for the working hours of the father. In some cases it may be necessary for the youngest children to have their story-time and prayer alone with the mother, as they should be asleep before the regular worship hour. But if possible, all members of the family should be brought together in the evening worship hour.

When the father, for any reason, can not conduct worship, it devolves upon the mother. Fortunate is that family where both are united and both are present. But in those too-common cases where only the mother is a Christian or in sympathy with the truth, the obligation, while harder to fulfil, is nevertheless as great and as important in the training of the children.

Family worship must be made joyous, helpful, inspiring. It can be so, if thought is given to its planning and if correct principles are carried out. It is an important part of the training of the child, and if parents and children really live together, it will be a delightful as well as helpful association.

Aitutaki, Cook Islands

By Mrs. Geo. L. Sterling

MRS. GEO. L. STERLING

IT is now nearly two months since we came to Aitutaki to stay. We have been very busy ever since our arrival.

The natives did not know at first that we knew anything about caring for the sick, or that we had any sympathy for their sick ones. Gradually they found this out; and now whenever we visit the natives in their homes, the sick are brought to us, or we are requested to go and visit them. When we go to other villages to hold meetings, invitations frequently come to call at houses near by to see the sick. In some cases we are able to render assistance by means of simple treatments, while other cases are beyond our ability. There is no doctor here, and many cases are in need of a skilled physician's care. Some need surgical operations. There was a physician here some time ago, but he did not feel that he could remain with no better compensation than that which the natives paid him. The resident agent of the Cook Islands administration carries drugs, but he has little medical knowledge. In many cases he guesses as to what may be the malady, and deals out medicine accordingly, without ever seeing the patient. This often proves worse than no medicine at all. The Catholic mission on the island also dispenses some medicine.

Two government doctors are located on Rarotonga, and occasionally one or the other visits the outlying islands of the group including Aitutaki. One is expected soon by the London Missionary Society mission ship, “John Williams.” There is much suffering among the women and children.

There is more superstition than I at first thought. They have learned that the foreigner does not sanction such ideas, so they do not talk them to us unless we question to draw them out. Many times they attribute the sickness to an evil spirit, saying that this or that person has a maki tupapaku, or is made sick by an evil spirit. One would hardly expect to find a people believing such a doctrine after having heard the gospel of Christ for ninety years; but those old superstitions are hard to forget. Usually, when it is thought that a patient is suffering from a maki tupapaku, a native doctor is called, who at once sanctions that idea, and lays the blame on the spirit of a relative who has died, or sometimes a living relative may be accused. They administer some sort of crude treatment, or give orders to have the patient removed to another village or to the house of another relative. At times they will do nothing for the sick, saying that there is no use, for if it is a sickness caused by an evil spirit, the individual will die anyway. In such cases lives are lost that might be saved.

When we arrived on Aitutaki, there was a new-born baby in a part of the house in which we were to live. After about ten days the baby developed something like fits. The natives soon circulated the report that the grandmother of the child, who had been dead some time, was angry because her mosquito-net had been given to the young mother and baby to use; therefore the child was being tormented by the old grandmother's spirit, causing fits.

As we associate with the people, and behold their utter ignorance of the laws of hygiene and cleanliness, we pity them. It requires patient teaching and example to bring about any change. There are some very loathsome diseases here. These are made even worse because of the most insanitary condition in which most of those live who have them. Some forms of leprosy also exist, though those who are known to have it are banished to a small island off the coast. I am sure there are cases ashore now that should be sent there.

I have many times felt thankful to God for his care over us, that none of these diseases have fastened themselves upon us. He has left on record his blessed promises for our encouragement: “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Ps. 91:10, 11. “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:18.

We are glad for the interest that our brethren and sisters have in us and our needy field. We are sure that not only your donations from time to time are given to help the work, but that your prayers also arise for us. The Lord will bless each one of you according to your love and earnestness in his service.

A Hindu's Request

By W. R. French

W. R. FRENCH

WHILE on a tour in behalf of our paper, the Bengali Signs of the Times, we stopped for a few days at a place where we have been carrying on work for some years. We have two native colporteurs in this place, also a school with an enrolment of about eighty Hindu boys. These boys are daily taught the Bible stories, especially the story of the cross. They are bright, intelligent-looking boys, and we hope that some day we shall see a harvest of souls from this Hindu village, which is situated in the country districts of Bengal, away from any large town; but still such is the native desire for an education, and especially for the English language, that we find them eagerly studying and learning the English in this school.

While here, we were invited one day to take dinner in a Hindu home. At the close of the meal, our host asked us if we would not build a church in his village. As an inducement, and also to show his earnestness in his request, he offered us land worth fifty rupees, or seventeen dollars. This man's wealth consisted in only a small tract of land, one twentieth of which he was willing to give if we would only build a church in his village. My mind at once went to the widow and her two mites, then to the home land with its enlightenment and opportunities to hear the gospel, and I wondered how many of our people were willing to give a proportionate amount of their land or income to

further the cause that we love, and to teach the gospel to the heathen. Surely this heathen's example should be an incentive to all true Christians, and especially to our people during this week of prayer. Let us remember this Hindu's request for a church when we are deciding how much we are going to give for the Annual Offering. May we also remember his request at the throne of grace.

Calcutta.

Supplication for the Week of Prayer

By Worthie Harris Holden

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

O GRACIOUS Father, bend thine ear to listen Unto thy waiting suppliants to-day! We praise thy name that by thy cloudy pillar Thou leddest safely through the desert way; We thank thee for the Bread of Life from heaven. For streams that from the Rock our souls sustain; That Elam ever follows Marah’s waters, And hands uplift to heaven thy battles gain.

We tread upon the verge of Jordan’s river; The promised land awaits us over there. O purge our souls from self and all defilement! Make bright our armor through this week of prayer.

Look down in mercy on thy people scattered O’er all the earth in many a land and clime, And grant thy blest compelling heavenly presence, That we may do the work thou dost assign.

So gather Israel for the final conflict; The enemy surrounds on every hand; Led by our Captain, conquering and to conquer, We soon shall triumph in Immanuel’s land.

We laud thee for thy wonderful compassion; Too long we lingered in the desert waste: Now glorify thy name that from all nations True hearts and leal may to thy standard haste.

Portland, Oregon.

In Bohemia

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

The first annual session of the Bohemian Mission field has just been held here in Reichenberg, September 5-9. Of the one hundred forty-three members in this field (organized Jan. 1, 1912) about one hundred were able to attend. Brethren J. G. Oblaender, O. E. Reinke, and J. Wolfgarten assisted the six local workers in the meetings, none of which was of a public character.

From the very beginning there was a good spirit, and we have attended no conference where greater liberality was shown for the cause of missions. Friday afternoon fifty persons were at the last business meeting, and after having listened to the appeal for the many millions in our great mission fields, 1,503 crowns (about $300) was raised in cash and pledges for the Ten-cent-a-week Fund. On Sabbath evening, when more were present, 201 crowns was raised, making 1,704 crowns in all. There were no large gifts, but the brethren gave as God's Spirit moved upon their hearts, without any urging on our part.

Were we to speak of the difficulties, which are many, it would not remove any of them, so we prefer rather to mention the courage shown by the brethren. One man, for example, who received the message by reading, has been so blessed of God that he has been successful in getting about twelve persons into the truth. I was much pleased to see this simple, whole-hearted brother, whose hands showed him to be a hard-working man. Would that we had more men of such faith and missionary zeal.

Sabbath afternoon Brother A. Bereck was ordained to the gospel ministry, and one local church elder was set apart to his special office at the same time. The season was followed by a praise service, one of the best I ever attended.

Brother Posch, who had just arrived in this field from Germany to lead out in the canvassing work, daily instructed about a dozen colporteurs and such others as were interested. We have some bright, promising young people who are giving their time to the circulation of our literature, in the face of very great obstacles, and they are having success.

The greatest need of this country of Huss and Jerome is workers,—more workers, who can go forth in the spirit and power of the message and successfully present the truth to the seven million inhabitants of this land. One young man, whose mother tongue is Bohemian, will go to our Friedensau School, which has already trained several promising young people for the work here.

The political situation in Austria is ever becoming more acute. It is now time for us to be up and doing. Many honest-hearted men and women will be won to follow the Bohemian Reformers, who loved not their lives unto death, and these souls will prove burden-bearers in finishing the work of God in this land. We sincerely request for Brother F. Gruber, the reelected superintendent of this mission, and for his fellow workers and our brethren and sisters in Bohemia, an interest in the prayers of our people everywhere.

JOEL C. ROGERS

By Joel C. Rogers

From the Furlough Viewpoint

JOEL C. ROGERS

The missionary’s heart is open and his ears are listening as he lands from abroad on the home shores. How shall I find the atmosphere and temperature in the great home movement of which I once was a part? Will the work of the message be full of greater life and power than ever? What will be the attitude of the church body to the great world work? These are some of the questions welling up from a heart filled with the longings of years of contact with heathenism.

He arrives at headquarters. He is impressed with the many burdens carried by the faithful staff of officers and assistants. That they are hard, energetic workers he observes at every turn. He can not fail to feel that the burdens of some of the department heads are extremely heavy and taxing. He now adds more earnest petitions to those he has offered daily for these brethren while away in his distant station. Their tasks entail some less encouraging duties than his among the heathen, if possible.

While at headquarters, every sign of personal interest in the mission work lying upon his heart is noted with avidity. A brother meets him with “I am so glad to meet you, for I have read your reports, and I see the Lord has been blessing your work out there. Won’t you tell me more about it?” This goes straight to his heart, and the missionary finds no greater joy than going over some of his daily and special mission experiences.

When he visits some of the colleges and academies, he feels sure that the students will heartily welcome his messages from missions, and will ply him with questions of a real live significance. I found in one academy eighty per cent who had definitely chosen their vocation in the cause. The whole class of sixteen graduates were going directly into the work. The most intelligent interest in the work abroad, as shown by many written questions, was found in the academies and intermediate schools. I was glad to find in one college visited a very lively interest, shown by the work of several bands studying particular fields. This work was carried on under the general direction of the president’s wife, which gave it the standing it deserves.

In visiting many of our schools, my experience has been that no class of our people shows a livelier interest in mission work than do our students. Certainly this is hopeful, and is as it ought to be.

But I have found this interest also very marked at some local church meetings and camp-meetings. In fact, an intelligent heart interest in missions is a sign of the times to-day for the denomination. When there is manifested throughout a whole denomination such interest as is shown by gifts of eight dollars per member—men, women, and children—for foreign work, and twenty-two dollars each for all work, it is significant. It shows the hand of God.

The wise application of these gifts of a united people by their chosen representatives at home and abroad is laying the foundations for a rapid extension of the message to every tongue and tribe.

The missionary wants above all things to be back among the people he has chosen for his work. Many whom he has taught write their simple appeals, saying, “Why do you remain away so long?” He is happy to assure them that it is not his own choice to remain away.

Takoma Park, D. C.

Do Not Forget Us in the Philippines

By Elbridge M. Adams

ELBRIDGE M. ADAMS

The work in Manila is progressing very encouragingly. It is extending beyond Manila into the provinces. We have a church of over one hundred members. And I think that we shall receive about twenty-five more into the church at the next quarterly meeting, which we expect to hold the last Sabbath in this month.

We find these people, it is true, addicted to vices, but the tropical sun can not take any of the cleansing properties from the blood that was spilled to wash away our sins. The people are inveterate smokers, and the women are not outdone by the men. Little girls and little boys smoke as freely as do the elder ones. In fact, I have seen the women and girls smoke in a way that I never saw a man,—with the lighted end in the mouth,—not to show off, but a way that they have of smoking. Swine's flesh is a very choice meat with these people. Pedlers go around carrying little live pigs for sale. If the people do not wish to eat them when so small, they tie them to the house and keep them there till they get large enough to eat. But the people do not hesitate to give these things up when the truth finds them. It almost seems sometimes that they are more ready to give up such things than are our people at home. In one study on jewelry there was a young woman present with two rings on her hand; before the study was over, she took them off. Some of our American girls would not do that. One

young man took his ring off before he had had any study on that subject. He saw that we did not wear jewelry, and supposing it to be wrong to wear a ring, took his off. This is a strong testimony to the power of example. I tell you that God is preparing a people in these islands to meet him. Brethren, let it not be said of us, “The last shall be first, and the first last.”

We have about ten workers here. Three are white, and the rest are native. Two books and a number of tracts have been translated into the Tagalog. We are blessed in being able to start a monthly paper in the vernacular. It has twenty-four pages, and although recently started, has already a subscription list of over three hundred. The people show their interest not only by subscribing, but also by sending to us questions to be answered in the paper.

I do not mean to give you the impression that there is no opposition to the work here. In one of the near-by towns, where we have a company being raised up, some one saw a note pasted up in a public place which read, “The reason that Manalaysay [the leader of the company there] is trying to get the people to give up their vices is that they may have more money to give to him.” The money question is a delicate point with them.

Now I know of some in my home land that are praying for us. I hope that with the many petitions offered, especially during the week of prayer, we in the Philippine Islands shall be remembered.

The German-Swiss Meeting

By Ludwig Richard Conradi

L. R. CONRADI

From August 14 to 18 the German-Swiss Conference had its annual session in a tent pitched on the outskirts of Basel, the large pavilion being well filled. We were pleased indeed to see the good attendance at this meeting, and the excellent spirit manifested by those who attended. The German-Swiss Conference has shown a steady growth since the separation from the French field, and by the end of June, the membership had risen to 633. Last year, not less than 106 members were added. Its tithe was about $7,000 last year, and it is steadily increasing. Our business was transacted very harmoniously, and Elder O. E. Reinke was again chosen president. Up to the present he has been living in Zurich, but as he has also been appointed president of the Central European Union, he will move his headquarters to Basel. A good place has already been rented, as we need larger quarters for our book depository, food store, and union office. Though we have no institution at present in Basel, yet a strong influence is exerted through our gospel work.

The canvassing work has more than doubled during the last few years, the sales in German Switzerland amounting to about $14,000. Brother Boex, the canvassing agent for the German unions, was present to assist in the colporteur work. Brother Melchiore, an Italian who had been doing good canvassing work in Turkey, is now in the Italian canton of Tessin, and we hope soon to have the Italian canvassing work on a better footing.

Sabbath was a good day in the camp, and three ministers were ordained. A collection for missions yielded about $500, and the Sabbath collection was about $160. Elders W. J. Fitzgerald, J. G. Oblaender, and Guy Dail, and the writer assisted at the meeting. Quite an active campaign has been planned for this field during the coming year, and the outlook seems better for the growth of the work here than it has ever been before.

Canvassing on Mt. Lebanon

By W. C. Ising

W. C. ISING

THE gospel message is finding its way into all parts of the wide world, and faithful canvassers are disseminating our precious literature in the highways and byways. After working the city of Beirut for some time, during the summer months we have chosen the mountains to whose lofty villages resort many strangers from Egypt and other quarters. Brother T. Zachary, who was our first regular canvasser in Syria, has taken with him Brother Michael from the region of Sidon, and they have gone through some thirty villages during the last three months. They disposed of several thousands of our Arabic tracts, and also sold a goodly number of French and English publications. As they went from village to village, they found many persons eager to buy our literature and to study its contents. On the other hand, there was opposition on the part of the Catholic clergy, who tried to hedge up the way by using their influence to prevent the people from taking the publications offered, often tearing up the tracts before their eyes. In one place a large number of students eagerly purchased the various tracts in the absence of the priests; but on their return the literature was all collected and burned. But it is evident that the seed sown will not be in vain, and that the leaven will work its way through the lump. There are indications of real interest in the truths proclaimed, and we hope to be able to find some honest hearts who are desirous of more light and whom we may win to the kingdom of God by the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Lebanon is a large field of labor, it being chiefly Christian, although the Catholic (Maronites) field is promising of success. The large number of schools which are conducted by Protestants are doing much to enlighten the people and to prepare the way for the entrance of present truth. There are about seven hundred villages waiting to hear the message, and we are determined to give it to them. We have now about ten standard tracts in the Arabic, while “Matthew Twenty-Four” and “Sure Word of Prophecy” are soon to be ready for sale. We hope soon to give further reports of the progress of the work and the speed of the gospel message on Mt. Lebanon.

Identifying With a Great Cause

ONE reason why some people who are capable of doing much good work in the building up of the world accomplish so little is they have never identified themselves with any great cause. The only possible way to be manly and useful is to identify one's self with the greatest cause set for the promotion of good, and then take gladly one's whole share of the burden of that cause.—Baltimore Methodist.

The Heathen World Awaiting Morning

PAINT a starless sky; hang your picture with night; drape the mountains with long, far-reaching vistas of darkness; hang the curtains deep along every shore and landscape; darken all the past; let the future be draped in deeper and yet deeper night; fill the awful gloom with hungry, sad-faced men and sorrow-driven women and children,— it is the heathen world, the people seen in vision by the prophet, who sit in the region and shadow of death, to whom no light has come; sitting there still through the long, long night, waiting and watching for the morning.—Bishop Foster.

Readings for the Week of Prayer

By W. T. Knox

To Be Read in the Churches December 7-14, 1912

The Object of the Week of Prayer

Suggestions Concerning the Meetings

THE week of prayer, according to appointment, is to be held this year December 7-14. During the fall council of the General Conference Committee careful consideration was given to the question of making this season a most profitable one to the denomination, it being recognized by all in attendance that conditions existing both in the denomination and in the world render it most imperative that God’s people must have a much closer relationship to the Lord in order that they may accomplish the sacred work entrusted to them. The following action was taken by the council:—

“1. We need not say that God will not keep that appointment with his people, or that appointment which his people make with him. It is his own commandment to his children to seek His face, and it is his own word that where two or three meet together in his name there he will be in their midst.

“2. Our need demands the seeking of God. We are utterly lost without him. Many of our people are drifting into sin. The spirit of commercialism, pleasure, and worldliness is crowding out the Spirit of God. We are a weak people, and few. Our learning, our wealth, our numbers, our organization, anything that we are of which we fain would boast, commends us not to him; but our great need does appeal to his heart of infinite pity. He asks us to do a great work. His must be the power as is his the glory. Let us ask great things of God; let us expect great things from him.

“3. We need God ourselves to lift the cloud of condemnation, that the sunlight of his love may shine into our sin-cleansed hearts.

“Our families need him. Some of many families are out of God’s ark of safety. Among these may be our own children, our own wives and husbands, our own fathers and mothers, our brethren’s children. Let us seek God for them. It may be the last opportunity for many of us thus to seek him. It may be the last opportunity for many of them to make him their choice.

“Our neighbors need him. Their souls may be demanded of us in the great day of reckoning. Seek God for them.

“The great world needs God, and we are its debtors, debtors to the Jew and the Greek, to the American and the Chinese, to the Japanese and the East Indian. How shall we discharge this awful responsibility to God without his help?

“4. What a demand is all this for separation from sin and separation unto God! What a demand for consecration, whole-hearted consecration of self for the sake of our loved ones, our relatives and neighbors, the world’s burden of dying souls,—a consecration for Christ’s sake.

“5. While our God always hears the sincere prayer of the individual heart, he has ever especially honored with great blessing the united and whole-hearted seeking of Israel. Before united prayer the hosts of Moab and Ammon were overthrown, and the plea for succor was turned into songs of praise. 2 Chronicles 20. Before the earnest pleading with God Sennacherib with his mighty army, despite his proud boasting, was turned back to destruction. 2 Kings 19. By fasting and prayer by the river Ahava, the helpless band of Israelites passed safely through the dreaded land of robbers. Ezra 8. ‘The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this; and he was intreated of us.’ It is his word to the remnant, ‘Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, . . . seek righteousness, seek meekness.’

“6. Let us seek God that his exceeding great and precious promises may be fulfilled in us. He waits to be gracious. Do not disappoint him. Let conference officers, union and local, the ‘ministers of our God,’ and church elders unitedly do all in their power to make this week of prayer all that God wishes it to be to his people. ‘Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.’”

That the best results may be obtained from the readings, the elders in charge should make careful selection of the readers, giving ample notice to those chosen, that proper preparation may be made. Upon the first Sabbath, envelopes for the Annual Offering should be distributed to the members, with a statement of the importance of this feature of our work, and an earnest exhortation made for a very liberal offering, which should be taken up at the close of the last Sabbath service.

The growing demands of the field has necessitated a large increase in the appropriations of the Mission Board for 1913, over $525,000 having been appropriated by the committee to meet the most urgent calls. Only the greatest liberality of the people will make these large appropriations possible. We are hoping, therefore, for the largest Annual Offering in our history.

May rich blessings from the God of heaven flow in to his people, and make this week of prayer a most precious season to all. W. T. KNOX.

Continue reading: The Efficacy of Prayer in the Work of God