p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 27. (7/7/1903)

A Plea for United Action

THE work of greatest magnitude in the world to-day is the establishment of missions and the sending forth of laborers to all parts of the world to carry the last gospel message to all who dwell upon the earth. Not every one can go to these distant lands, or endure the hardships that must be met in such an undertaking, but every one can have a part in this great work; certainly no Seventh-day Adventist can afford to miss so great an opportunity.

The watchword of every church in the land and of every missionary society is now, “The gospel to the world in this generation.” The important question with us is, Will Seventh-day Adventists be leaders in this movement,—a movement that is to stir the whole world, that is to go to its uttermost parts? Can we afford to be anything less when the message we send forth contains the greatest truth and the most terrible warning for this time?

But to do all this means that every individual who loves the truth must have a part; it means far greater activity than has been manifested in the past; it means a systematic taking hold of this matter in a substantial, tangible manner. It was with this idea in view that the plan to put aside ten cents a week for missionary purposes was first suggested. Already a large number of our people have adopted this plan, but this year should not pass before every one is faithfully carrying it out.

To lay aside ten cents each week does not seem a great thing, and for a single individual it is not, but when every one does this, it means a great sum. If every Seventh-day Adventist church-member in America would adopt this plan, and faithfully send in the amount to the Mission Board each month, the total amount for the year would be more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Why Not Begin Now?

With the first of July begins the second half of the year 1903. If you have not begun the practice, why not begin with this month? Enlist every member of the church; if possible, enlist every member of the family, and at the end of the month send in the remittance. Send it in with an earnest prayer for these distant fields, for our laborers who are going forth, and for the millions who will perish unless it is done.

Send all amounts to your State tract society, or to the treasurer of the Mission Board, Battle Creek, Mich.

The Experience of One Church

By Estella Houser

From one of our Eastern churches a request came recently for envelopes for a special offering that was to be taken up, the librarian writing that they had found that the use of the envelopes increased their offerings. As an illustration, she mentioned their experience with the weekly offering envelopes for missions, stating that before they began to use the envelopes, their offerings averaged about ten dollars a year, but since the envelopes had been adopted, the offering had increased to about forty dollars a year, the offering for one quarter equaling that of a whole year without the use of the envelopes.

This little experience needs no comment. The same has been true in many other churches. Where the needs of the field and our privileges in connection with them are constantly held before the people by the little envelope, which is simply a reminder of the great work entrusted to us, we find the offerings are larger than without the use of them, although none are more heavily burdened. Perhaps those who have been in the habit of giving have given no more, but a large number who have overlooked the matter because their attention has not been called to it, have been reminded by the little envelopes.

No church elder should fail to give these a trial. Ten cents a week from each individual means the ability to increase our work in mission fields at least threefold. In this way every one may have a part in giving the last warning message to the world. The Mission Board will be glad to correspond with you about it. ESTELLA HOUSER.

Elder Smith Sharp Visits Battle Creek

ELDER SMITH SHARP, of Graysville, Tenn., spent several days in Battle Creek, and spoke twice last week on the needs of the sanitarium work in the South. Collections were taken in behalf of that work.

Tribute to Brother A. La Rue

ON page twenty-three will be found a fitting tribute to the memory of that faithful laborer, Brother A. La Rue. The prayers of this earnest worker are being answered in the increasing interest in the work in China, and in the movement to send re-enforcements to that country.

Support The Southern Watchman

By Editor

IN our editorial department we print this week an article by Elder G. I. Butler regarding the enlargement of The Southern Watchman, the organ of the Southern Union Conference. We hope all will read the article, and to the extent of their ability give to the Watchman and the field for which it speaks, their encouragement and financial support.

Camp-Meeting Reports

THE reports of our camp-meetings thus far this season are encouraging, with the exception of the attendance, which, on the whole, has not been large. We hope that there may be an improvement in this respect in the meetings yet to be held. We all need to make the most of every opportunity for receiving and imparting spiritual strength in these troublous times.

Christian Science and Isaiah’s Prophecy

CHRISTIAN Science claims to be a very spiritual system, but it gave evidence of its earthly, sensual character on the occasion of the recent visit of ten thousand followers of Mrs. Eddy to the latter's home at Concord, N. H. Mrs. Eddy made a brief address to the assembled multitude, at the conclusion of which she said: "To-day is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: 'And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.'"

The scene which will be the true fulfillment of this text of God's Word will so far surpass that to which it is applied by this Christian Science interpretation as heaven surpasses this sin-cursed earth. It is characteristic of false religions that they rob God's Word of its force, and bring the level of the divine down to that of the human and earthly.

The Proposed Change from Saturday to Sunday

For years Jewish leaders in this country have given more or less thought to the question of the expediency of changing from the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath, to the observance of the first day, in order to conform to the practice of the religious majority. So much favor has this idea now gained in Jewish circles that at a gathering of Jewish rabbis from all parts of the United States, held in Detroit, June 29 to July 3, one of the principal features was a report of the Sabbath Commission which had been appointed for the purpose of bringing recommendations on the subject before the meeting.

For years there has been among the Jews a growing “reform” element which has advocated the change here proposed, and the appointment and report of this commission show the influence which this element is now able to exert in the Jewish church. In answer to the objections of those who oppose the contemplated change from Saturday to Sunday, its advocates loudly declare that they are not seeking to destroy the Sabbath, but to strengthen the institution among their people. These doubtless have in mind the large number of Jewish tradesmen to whom the observance of the first day of the week would be preferable to the observance of the seventh from a financial point of view.

As the contest between the Sabbath and its First-day rival progresses, the line will be more and more clearly drawn between those who are actuated by principle and those who are moved by policy, in this testing matter.