Earlier text: The Medical Missionary Work at Atlanta, GeorgiaAn Appeal for the Southern Work
By Ellen G. White
To Our Churches in America:
There is a heavy burden on my soul in regard to the Southern work. Something has already been done in the South; but the work must advance much more rapidly than it has been advancing. God has established a publishing house in Nashville to print reading matter suitable for the different classes of people in that field. The needs of this new institution have been presented before our Northern churches, and, in response to the calls of our brethren, their many gifts, large and small, have been made. We thank the Lord that he has aroused some of the brethren to establish and sustain the publishing house in Nashville. The establishment of this institution is an advance movement, and will accomplish much good. This institution will still need to be sustained by gifts and offerings, just as the publishing houses in Battle Creek and Oakland were sustained when they were first established. Sanitarium work has also been begun in Nashville. This must be given support. Medical missionary work is indeed the helping hand of the gospel ministry. It opens the way for the entrance of truth. These newly established interests should receive help from our people. Those living in places where the truth has been long established should remember the needs of the preparatory work to be done in Nashville. This place has been selected as a center because of the large educational institutions situated in and near it. In these institutions there are those who are doing a noble work for the people of the South. They must be given opportunity to hear the message that is to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord. Words have come to me from the One highest in authority. My Instructor asked, “In establishing the work in the Southern field, will you do less than you have done in more favorable places,—less than you have done in Michigan and on the Pacific Coast?” I responded, “No, Lord.” Then the word came: “You have no time to lose in establishing the work in the Southern field. Many are saying in their hearts, ‘My Lord delayeth his coming.’ But the Word of the Lord declares:— “‘There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. “‘And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.’” It is high time that we awake out of sleep. In the Lord's vineyard there should be one hundred workers where now there is but one. If we move forward in faith, the Lord will care for us. He declares:— “‘Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. “‘But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’” The time has come for those who have a large amount of means invested in houses and lands, to begin to dispose of their possessions. “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” My brethren and sisters in the faith of Christ's soon coming, I ask you how it will be with you when you stand before the great white throne, to answer to God for the talents he has intrusted to you? If you hoard your money, if you invest it in houses and costly furniture, how can you meet your Lord in peace? Your heart will be where your treasure is. If in the providence of God you have been given means, do not settle down with the thought that you need not engage in useful labor, that you have enough, and can eat, and drink, and be merry. Do not stand idle while others are struggling to obtain means for the cause. If you do less than your duty in giving help to the perishing, remember that your indolence is incurring guilt. Before it is forever too late, begin to reform. Invest less in worldly enterprises, and use your means in creating increased facilities for giving the third angel's message to the world. The time will soon come when no man can buy or sell, save he who has the mark of the beast. We have no time to lose. The end is near. But opportunity is still offered for your talent of means now buried in worldly possessions, to be transferred to the Lord's work. God desires his people to do far more for the establishment of his church, far more for the maintenance of the cause of truth. Keeping the glory of God in view will enable us to make a wise use of his goods. If God gives us much of this world's goods, it is not that we may selfishly hoard them, or that we may crave for more, but that we may freely impart to those not so richly blessed. Nothing so refreshes the spirit as giving gladly and willingly of the blessings God has so freely given us. The life of the soul is revived by the sight of the good thus accomplished, and by a sense that a conscientious use has been made of the Lord's goods. All are being tested and tried. By the way in which we do the work Christ has given us to do in his absence, we decide our future destiny. Many neglect their God-given work. They refuse to be his helping hand. Let us fear to fall short of God's plan for us. His servants are to be ever on duty, working always for the uplifting of those for whom he gave his life. Christ, the Master of the household, has gone to prepare for us mansions in the heavenly city. We are waiting for his return. Let us honor him in his absence by doing with faithfulness the work he has placed in our hands. Waiting, watching, working, we are to prepare for his return. If we are faithful, if we serve him with full purpose of heart, he will receive us with the gracious words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” He will receive us with honor. To us will be given a crown of glory that fadeth not away, and a new name, “which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Those who follow Christ here will one day “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” I am instructed to say that slowly, but surely, the wheel of Providence is turning. We know not how soon our Lord will say, “It is done.” His coming is drawing nigh. “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” Great and solemn events are soon to take place; and the Lord says, “I will scatter; and I will also gather together a people to serve me.” God's judgments are in the land. To the whole world the warning message is to be given. I inquire of those upon whom for so long the light of truth has been shining. In this time of such solemn importance, what are you going to do to advance the work necessary to be done in saving perishing souls? There is much to be done for the Master. He calls upon all to watch, that when he comes, they may open to him immediately. He asks you to do his commandments, to bring forth much fruit because you are branches of the true Vine. As you bear21much fruit, his joy will remain in you. My brethren, what are you going to do in regard to the Southern field? With earnest effort, you are to strive to establish memorials for God throughout the Southern States. A great work is before us in the South. The brethren there need means to erect inexpensive buildings that are necessary for the carrying forward of work that must be done speedily. Churches should be raised up; houses of worship should be built; small schools and sanitariums should be established; and the publishing interests should be strengthened. I am instructed to call upon my brethren in the different conferences of America to take a greater interest in the Southern work than you have taken. From the light that the Lord has been pleased to give me, there is resting upon you a duty to look upon this destitute field, and to do more for it than you have yet done. The Lord has blessed you with means to help carry forward his work, and he now calls upon you to be faithful to your stewardship by helping advance the work in this long-neglected portion of his vineyard. Let the churches arise as one, and work earnestly, as those who are walking in the full light of truth for these last days. In the name of the Lord, I call upon my brethren to do something to strengthen the publishing interests and to help establish other lines of work in the South, and to do it now. Soon it will be too late to do anything. Soon our opportunities to work will have passed by forever. The plagues of God are already beginning to be poured out upon the earth. The evidences before us indicate that God's Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth. Only a little while longer shall we be permitted to labor, and then in heaven it will be said, “It is done.” “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Brethren and sisters, now is the time to make haste to do something. Will you now give of your means to advance the work in the South? If you have in your possession houses and lands that you do not need, will you sell them, and invest the means thus obtained in more firmly establishing the various lines of work that have been begun in the Southern field? To rescue the fallen race from the thralldom of sin, Christ came to the world, and died on Calvary. He gave his all to us. What are we willing to give to him? Those who at such a time as this defraud God, will suffer eternal loss. “Sell that ye have, and give alms.” Put your money in the bank of heaven. Thus invested, it will yield an infinitely higher rate of interest than if placed in the banks of this world. Divine grace accompanies those who deny self for the sake of the work of the Redeemer. This grace is woven into all they do. The blessing of good works will follow them into the eternal world. They are wise stewards. By their right use of the Lord's goods, they are laying up treasure that will endure through the ceaseless ages of eternity. An Important Appeal
By George I. Butler
ST. HELENA, CAL., May 18, 1902. It has been my privilege for a day or two, with Brother W. O. Palmer, to meet with Sister E. G. White and Brother W. C. White, and lay before them the wants of the cause in the great Southern field, and especially our young publishing association in Nashville, which is in such a needy condition. To our great joy, we found that the following most important document was already written by the servant of God, which will set before our people the importance of the work in Nashville, and the great need of help from our brethren throughout the field. We are truly grateful to God for this encouragement. I will only say, in conclusion, that any and all gifts or donations made in response to this most earnest appeal should be sent to the Southern Publishing Association, 1025 Jefferson St., Nashville, Tenn. At a recent meeting of the Southern Union Conference Executive Committee it was unanimously voted that all the funds of the Southern Union Conference be deposited in the publishing association. A fuller statement will soon appear in the REVIEW AND HERALD concerning the financial affairs of this conference. GEO. I. BUTLER,
President Southern Union Conf. Problems Before Teachers
By E. A. Sutherland
THE following article is taken from the Announcement of the Summer Assembly for teachers and Christian business men, to be held at Berrien Springs, Mich., from June 12 to August 20. The last ten days, August 10–20, the assembly will be resolved into an educational convention, in which leading men from all departments of the work will have a part. A call has been made to all our educational institutions to send representatives. This will be an educational rally. Some of the problems now before teachers, and which will be given attention, are stated as follows:— As far as their educational qualifications are concerned, Christian teachers should be well able to carry their work. But this is not all. Every one who joins the ranks of Christian teachers, by so doing accepts a sacred mission, and says to the church and to the world that he stands for certain principles. This being true, those who are in training for the work of our schools must have more than is included in the ordinary course of instruction. There are a variety of problems facing the denomination to-day, with which our teachers must grapple during the Summer Assembly. 1. Foremost among these is the position which our church schools shall occupy in the conference. It has been said by an influential educator that “civilization will need to be built around the schoolhouse,” To us as a denomination this same proposition reads, The work of the Christian church needs to be built around a Christian school. Shall our church schools remain under the supervision of local committees, boards, and sometimes even private individuals? or shall the school take its place beside the church, and merit the support that comes from being a true child of the conference? Teachers who have met the problem in the field, will recognize the importance of settling this question now. The time has come for it; the people are asking for it; the conferences are waiting for the teachers to take their stand. 2. This leads us to a second problem: How shall the church school be supported? The present system of financial support is weak and unsatisfactory. There is in God’s Word ample provision made for the proper education of every child and youth. When adopted, the Bible plan of support will insure a school in every church, regular pay to every efficient teacher, and a definite and well-regulated amount of instruction every year. It will do away with short and irregular terms and unqualified teachers, local prejudice, and a host of attendant evils and irregularities. Every teacher who wishes to see the educational work placed on a firm foundation, will have in the Summer Assembly an opportunity to study this question, and to throw his influence on the side of progress. 3. A third problem relates to the intermediate industrial schools. A road must be built from every Christian home up to an intermediate industrial school. Our preparatory industrial schools must become the backbone of a system of universal common-school Christian education. In communities where a church school may not meet with favor, or where it will pass unnoticed, an industrial school will command respect and mold public opinion. Instruction has been given that wherever a few churches are located near one another, there an industrial school for youth should be established. It is not the idea to centralize, but to scatter. Very few, if any, of the conferences can meet the needs of their own youth by establishing one school only. Several small schools should be maintained by each conference. We must follow the instruction given by procuring a small farm, and placing on this land two or three strong teachers who can instruct thirty or forty youth. This problem of industrial schools should be understood by every teacher in our ranks. It will be thoroughly studied at the Summer Assembly. Men who have studied the question of industrial education from the standpoint of the popular schools, as well as those who have had experience in Christian schools, will lend their influence on this question.22 4. This leads to the direct consideration of a fourth problem. Where shall the department find men qualified to conduct intermediate industrial schools? Not every teacher is adapted to this phase of the work. The position requires a man of good executive ability, clear judgment, a keen perception of the relation of work to study, and a willingness to maintain that relation himself, and require an equal recognition of the fact from his co-laborers. The idea of department teaching must be dropped. Every man must be thoroughly in love with the youth, and must know what each youth in his school is fitted by nature to do; and must know how to give an all-round training which will develop all faculties without dwarfing any. Men to stand as principals of such schools, and women to act as matrons and preceptresses, will be trained at the Summer Assembly. A most careful selection will be made of students advised to enter the special classes in this department. One Hundred for Foreign Countries
From the class of teachers who gather at the Summer Assembly, the Mission Board hope to select one hundred for the regions beyond. This means a bold innovation upon past ideas concerning the proper manner of conducting foreign missionary work, but the necessity of the situation warrants the effort. Investigation reveals the fact that the great burden of the foreign field has always rested upon comparatively young missionaries. Livingstone was but twenty-seven when he started for the heart of Africa; McKenzie, Judson, Henry Martin, William Carey, John Paton, and Moffatt were all under thirty when their life work began in heathen countries. God is able to use young men and women. The Saviour’s work was completed before he was thirty-five. There must be men among us to-day whose hearts the Spirit touches, and who will offer themselves for this special training. Such should correspond with the secretary of the Mission Board, Elder W. A. Spicer, 267 West Main St., Battle Creek; or with the secretary of the Educational Department of the General Conference, Berrien Springs, Mich. Each case will be carefully considered. It means much to our young people to have this opportunity. The school and the Mission Board realize their responsibility in offering to give a training that will fit this class for the strenuous life and arduous duties before them. — One of the worst disasters in the whole history of coal mining occurred at Coal Creek, Tenn., May 19. An explosion took place in one part of the mine, killing a large number of men who were at work, and cutting off the escape of all others in the shaft, leaving three miles of underground passageway, filled with fallen slate, deadly gases, and burning timbers, between them and the outer world. It is estimated that the loss of life is over two hundred. — The islands of Martinique and St. Vincent are being rapidly depopulated, the inhabitants fleeing in panic to other places, convinced that the islands are to be totally destroyed by the volcanic eruptions now in progress. The behavior of Mont Pelée and Grande Soufrière, meanwhile, gives no small ground for these apprehensions. Violent eruptions continue from each crater, accompanied with terrifying explosions and showers of red-hot stones and ashes. The subterranean disturbance appears to be extending in area. — May 20 was the natal day of the new Cuban republic. At noon on that date, the formal transfer of the government to the hands of the Cubans was made by the United States, a proclamation setting forth the terms of the transfer being read by General Wood, the military governor, before an immense throng assembled before the palace in Havana. The American flag was lowered over the palace, and the ensign of Cuba raised in its place, amidst great enthusiasm on the part of the assembled Cubans. A message of congratulation from President Roosevelt was also read. The American forces in the city then marched to the shore, and embarked on the war ships waiting to receive them, which at once sailed away for the United States. A like ceremony was performed at Santiago, under the direction of General Whiteside. Several batteries of United States artillery yet remain, however, on Cuban soil. The foreign war ships in the harbor of Havana saluted the Cuban flag. The new republic finds itself much embarrassed financially, and Cuban statesmen will be busy for some time with the problem of providing for the expenses of the government. False Gods and Human Faithfulness
“Allow men to have a false god, and they will be very faithful to him.”