In the last issue of The Southern Watchman Elder Geo. I. Butler, the president of the Southern Union Conference, makes the following announcement:—
After due consideration by the leading brethren present at the anniversary meetings in Nashville, and the full indorsement of the Union Conference Committee, it has been thought best to appoint Sabbath, February 11, as a day of fasting and prayer, a solemn day in which to seek God that he may give us help in all our difficulties and perplexities in this Southern Union Conference.
We can only appoint this day of solemn prayer and fasting for the Southern Union Conference. But we know we have hosts of friends in the North and elsewhere who are earnestly watching and longing to see the work move forward here in the South. We hope it will be agreeable to them to unite with us in this appointed day of fasting and prayer and that our prayers may all go up unitedly to God that he will help us in this great Southern field.
Washington, D. C.
By J. S. WASHBURN
A STATEMENT as to the remarkable opening for the evangelical work in Washington, D. C., to which allusion was made last week, will be found on page 19.
Eleven twentieths of the $100,000 needed in Washington has now been received, the exact amount up to date, according to the list on page 20, being $55,091.90, leaving a remainder of $44,908.10 yet to be supplied. This means an average of $2,993.87 per week, if the total is reached before May 11, when the General Conference opens here. There must be a large and immediate increase of donations in order to do this. We know that this can easily be done if we unitedly do our utmost.
Read the following, written by Sister White under date of Jan. 11, 1905:—
“I am hoping that every stroke that is made in Takoma Park and in the city of Washington toward the upbuilding of the cause of God, may tell to the glory of the Lord. I pray that you may all work in such a way that many souls shall be brought to a knowledge of the truth for this time. Let all who can speak words for the Master be wide-awake now, just now, when so much depends upon the earnestness of our efforts. We have not a moment to lose. The end is nearer than when we first believed. Keep your eyes fixed steadfastly on Jesus. Seek the Lord daily for a new consecration.
From our sanitariums trained workers are to go forth into places where the truth has never been proclaimed, and do missionary work for the Master, claiming the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Christ can bring light out of darkness.
I appeal to all who have means to make a determined effort to carry out the instruction God has given regarding the establishment of a sanitarium in Takoma Park. Let our people rally to the support of this important enterprise. Let the churches in every State act their part, that the work in Washington may not come to a standstill. Let us make liberal gifts to this work, and the Lord will bless us and it. We can not see this work coming to a standstill while it is but half done. It need not come to a standstill if all our people will come up to the help of the Lord.
Let us come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness. Satan is working with intensity of purpose to enslave and destroy souls. Let us take a firm stand against him. The word of God urges every one to go steadily forward on the upward grade, pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
