Shall the Blind Have the Gospel Preached to Them?
By L. N. Muck
In Mark 16:15 we read: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” That is a direct command from the Saviour. No one is to be slighted: all must hear the message of the third angel. Again we read in Matt. 24:14: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Our Heavenly Father is desirous that all should be saved, and unless we go forward in the work of warning the world, we are not in harmony with the great Leader. It is not generally understood by our people that an interest has been awakened in bringing the present truth within reach of the blind people to whom we now have access. There are more than eighty thousand educated blind people in America, besides many thousands who, on account of impaired vision, are excluded from our public schools. These thousands of unfortunate, truth-loving people who are forced into physical darkness, appeal to us for the spiritual light of the third angel’s message, and we thank God that the way has been opened whereby the honest blind in our land may have the message. About four years ago the General Conference began publishing the Christian Record, a monthly magazine for the blind, which is set in two well-known systems, the American Braille and the New York Point. This paper had a good patronage from the first, and demonstrated that it had a mission and a needy field, and two years ago most of our State conferences voted in their annual meetings to recommend the Record and its work to all their churches. The work of the blind was taken up and thoroughly discussed at this time, and those present voted to send one or more copies of the Christian Record to each State institution for the blind, and to every public library where there has been a reading room provided for the blind. Some of the State conferences have followed out this idea, and the following is, in substance, a copy of the recommendation in those States which have carefully considered the matter:— “We recommend that all our churches take an interest in the circulation of the Christian Record, by placing it in the hands of the blind people, and contributing to its support.” We urge you, brethren, at this time prayerfully to consider the cause of the blind, and we beseech you in the name of Jesus, to do all you can, or may feel called upon to do, in supplying all blind persons of whom you may know with the Christian Record, or if there are no blind persons in your community, to make donations for subscriptions for the thousands we know of, who would be interested readers, but who can not take the paper. Heaven is watching with interest the progress of this work, and we believe that God wants us to sound the gospel trumpet to those in double darkness, and we also believe that God wants these unfortunate people to hear the message in this generation. From Volume III of the Testimonies, we quote the following, which we believe is in perfect harmony with the work of this office:— “The blind man has disadvantages to meet on every side in the loss of his sight.” We can help him to overcome this loss of sight, or to be satisfied with his condition, by holding up the light of the gospel, and by giving him something to read which will enlighten him and make him to realize that these light afflictions are nothing. “The heart in which pity and sympathy are not excited at seeing the blind man grope his way in the world that has clothed him in blessings, is hard indeed, and must be softened by the grace of God. Not a face can the blind man look upon and there read kindly sympathy and true benevolence. He can not look upon the beauties of nature and trace the finger of God in his created works. Their cheering gladness does not speak to him to comfort and to bless, when despondency broods over him.” If the mind is kept busy and the hands employed, all despondency and discouragements will be overcome. “How quickly would he exchange his blindness and every temporal blessing for the blessing of sight. But he is shut up to a world of darkness;” but there the gospel peace comes to every heart; and where there is darkness, God causes it to become light. Brethren, can we afford to keep silent when there are thousands of hungry souls going down to ruin? Let us invite these blind people to go through with us to the kingdom. We are all watchmen on the walls of Zion. Let us, then, in the name of our Leader, carry this precious truth to those in darkness. “This is God’s test of our character. If we have the true religion of the Bible, we shall feel that a debt of loving-kindness and interest is due to Christ in behalf of his brethren, and we can do no less than to show our gratitude for his immeasurable love to us while we were sinners, unworthy of his grace, by having a deep interest and unselfish love for those who are our brethren, and who are less fortunate than ourselves.” Where the work for the blind has been presented, a deep interest and ready response were manifested, and we feel sure that our churches and the brethren throughout the great harvest field will gladly co-operate with us in this important work of giving the message to our blind brethren and sisters in the Lord. Many of the States are indebted to us for literature sent to their State institutions and libraries, and we earnestly urge each president whose attention has been called to this matter by a communication from this office, kindly to send us the amount due us. Let us not place the burden on the General Conference; for we realize that the conference treasury is under a great financial strain at this time. If each should give a very small amount, this work would be greatly benefited, and we would be better prepared to meet the demands of thousands who are depending upon us for bread to feed their hungry souls. A few weeks ago we called the attention of the brethren and sisters to the condition of the blind in this country, and some have responded liberally, and we earnestly appeal to all to consider the needs of the blind, and to send us their mite. The subscription price of the Christian Record is two dollars a year, which, on account of the expense in the preparation of a paper for the blind, is a very low rate. We invite the young as well as the old to take hold with us in our attempt to rescue the perishing. Send all donations and subscriptions to the office of the General Conference, 222 North Capitol St., Washington, D. C.