We have messages from some of the great mission fields, sent by our workers for this week-of-prayer season.
Japan and Korea
The first comes from Japan and Korea, the lands of the rising sun. Elder F. W. Field writes:—
“The week-of-prayer season, with its accompanying gifts to our missions, is an occasion of deep interest to us missionaries; for at this time we are assured that the work in foreign fields will be especially remembered by our people everywhere. And this brief word is sent concerning the latest development of the work in Japan and Korea, that all may the more understandingly pray to the God of missions, and aid by their gifts.
“We are glad to report continued progress. Word has just come from Brother Okohira, who is making a visit to Kiushu in the south, that several have accepted the truth in Nagasaki. They desire baptism and a training in the work. There are others who are looking forward hopefully to the time when we shall have a school for the training of workers. Pray that they may not have long to wait.
“Our medical work in Kobe has never seemed more promising than of late, nor the opportunities for reaching the people better. At the same time we have had to meet difficulties and perplexities.7These difficulties could be removed most effectively by providing an institution of our own, to accommodate both native and foreign patients, as planned at our general meeting last winter.
“The cause of truth continues to advance in Korea. We rejoice at the coming of Elder James Shultz to that needy field. In your prayers remember the spiritual needs of ten million Koreans, and five times as many Japanese. We are of good courage in our work for these, and pledge ourselves to unite our prayers and efforts with yours, for their salvation.”
South Africa
Elder W. S. Hyatt sends this word from the Dark Continent:—
“Quickly has the year 1907 sped away, and another week of prayer is here. We are certain that you will remember our missionaries in Africa.
“Our brethren in this field are of good courage in the Lord and his work. It would do you good to bow with them around their family altars, and hear their earnest cries to God for help to do their daily work, and that his hand may open ways before them for the advancement of the truth. Yes, my brethren, your hearts would be stirred, if you could hear them pleading with God to send consecrated men and women into the field to bear the third angel’s message to those sitting in darkness.
“Our field is vast, but a beginning has been made, for which we are thankful. But, my brethren and sisters, it is only a beginning. Our hearts have been made to rejoice as we have heard the good reports from the west and east coasts. Truly Ethiopia is stretching out her hands unto God. In South Africa the light of the message is spreading among both Europeans and natives. Elder J. C. Rogers and wife have recently gone to Nyassaland. Elder M. C. Sturdevant has visited the most northern extremity of the new Cape-to-Cairo Railway, and he hopes soon to open work in that vicinity.
“We must keep pace with Nahum’s chariots, as they penetrate into the center of this dark continent. There is no stopping till even Central Africa has been lightened by that message that is to enlighten the world. The cry is, Onward; and our missionaries are seeking and longing to press forward; but before they can do so, others must step in and fill the places they now occupy. We must hold every step we have gained, and be continually seeking for new openings into which we may enter. This will require a continuous stream of men and women and funds, that will be ever enlarging as the work advances.
“In view of the greatness of this work and the shortness of time in which to do it, let me once more urge that you most earnestly plead, during this season of prayer, that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.”
South America
The next message comes from South America, land of Catholic darkness, called in missionary literature the Neglected Continent. Elder J. W. Westphal sends this salutation:—
“In the name of all our brethren throughout the South American field we send greeting to our brethren in other lands, in this, their annual week of prayer.
“We are glad to say that the work is onward in South America. Gradually the message has spread, until its arms enfold every republic of our field. Sabbath-keepers may be found from the equator to Terra del Fuego. While in the beginning the work must be slow, it being the seed-sowing time, we are encouraged to believe that South America will ere long be lightened with the glory of the angel who joins the third angel to give power to his message.
“While a beginning has been made, we must, however, consider it only the beginning of a great work. Forty million souls are groping in darkness. They are crowded in the cities, roving in wild, desert regions, and scattered everywhere, living in mansion and hovel. They embrace the most enlightened European and the most ignorant aborigine. While the message of God is going to other lands, have the equally hopeless Catholics and the millions of red men of the Neglected Continent no claims upon us? The work in South America must be done by hardship and privation, amid great discouragement at times. Our faithful, self-denying laborers must be reinforced by both men and means. The banner dropped by those fallen in death or those dropping out of the ranks must be raised higher by strong volunteers. Ecuador has been consecrated to the work of the third angel by the death of one of her pioneer missionaries, the wife of Brother F. H. Davis.
A letter received from Brother Davis just after his bereavement says: ‘Well, Brother Westphal, I am very sad, as death has claimed my dear wife. . . . Brother Yepez was away at the time in Quito, so I was all alone. We laid Susanna away under a large mulberry-tree in the cemetery. As I wrote to Brother Casebeer, I am not discouraged, but very sad, indeed. I want to stay in Ecuador some time yet, and see the work start.’
“A sadder feature is that hundreds of thousands are laid away—frequently cast away—annually, without hope, and without God in the world. One who was ever a source of encouragement to her husband in his work has fallen. But his heart is not separated from his chosen work. Shall such mute but eloquent appeals for the needy of these lands be made in vain? Will not others come forward to the support of those who remain? While some are sacrificing their time, comforts, strength, and even life, we believe our brethren will deem it a privilege to support the work with glad hearts and willing offerings.
“We need your prayers. We commend the interests of the work in South America to the supplication of our people during this week of prayer. May the Dayspring from on high visit us all ‘to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’”
The German-Russian Field
From the German-Russian Field Elder L. R. Conradi sends his message from the most populous of the European districts. He says:—
“The work to be done here can be best realized when we see that the two fields together have about two hundred eighty-five million people in their territory, or nearly one fifth of the world’s population. The Russian field contains about three times as much territory as the United States, and its population is one hundred forty-six million. In this mighty empire we have twenty-five hundred Sabbath-keepers.
“Asiatic Russia has been set apart as a separate mission. It is twice the size of Canada, and has three times its population. The country is settling up very fast. During the first six months of this year two hundred thousand immigrants entered Siberia. The only laborers we have in that vast field are two ordained ministers and a few Bible workers. During the last six months, Elder H. K. Loebsack has visited Samarkand and Tashkend, Mohammedan strongholds in the very heart of Asia, on the borders of China and India. He has also been as far as Semipalatinsk, establishing a church of thirteen members within thirteen miles of that city, and organizing a company near Omsk. He also learned of some of our people in four different places near Akmolinsk. He writes that a worker would have to spend a year there, and travel ten thousand8miles, to visit all our Sabbath-keepers scattered throughout that vast territory. Those who have labored in the far West during the early days, or those who are now laboring in British America, know how important it is to strengthen these outposts that are scattered along the Chinese border all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
“Coming to European Russia, we find that there are to-day in the Middle Russian Mission field, with a population of sixty-seven million, only about three hundred Sabbath-keepers, one ordained minister, and four other workers. We have only touched that work with the tips of our fingers. We must spare neither means nor effort to educate workers, circulate literature, and develop this field.
“But there is a great task before the German Union proper, after the separation of the Russian Union—a task just as great, perhaps, as that of carrying the message to Russia.
“Germany itself has sixty-two million people. Nine years ago we organized our first conference; to-day there are eight organizations, and the ninth conference will be organized here soon, the total membership of Germany being about six thousand. Now, what would we think in the United States, if there were to-day, among the eighty million inhabitants, only eight thousand believers?”
“In Austria-Hungary there are another fifty million people. Hungary is to be organized into a conference this year, and we have in these two countries only five hundred Sabbath-keepers.
“There are about thirty million more people, with some seven hundred Sabbath-keepers, in the rest of our European territory; while in German East Africa we now have three main stations, with eight missionaries. We hope that erelong we shall be able to baptize some converts in this colony, the first fruits of our mission to the heathen in East Africa. Brother Enns, who has been looking for openings around Lake Victoria Nyanza, wrote as follows:—
“When I arrived at Kisumu, I called on the Uganda chief, and spoke to him about the Sabbath, giving him the Bible, and letting him read the Word himself. However, as he could not see so well by lamplight, he called another, who read for him. They were both astonished, and very grateful for having been shown the truth on this matter, so that they for themselves might know God’s requirements.”
“When we look at our immense territory,—fruitful fields, too, as nearly ten thousand believers have been gathered out already,—we are surely justified in asking God’s people to remember us in their prayers and in their offerings.”
West Indies and Central America
Elder U. Bender’s message comes from the newest union conference abroad—the West Indian Union:—
“‘Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. . . . Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.’ Isa. 42: 10, 12.
“‘Harken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arms shall they trust.’ Isa. 51: 4, 5.
“‘He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.’ Isa. 42: 4.
“These scriptures set forth the great work that God will do among the islands when his ‘salvation is near to come,’ and his ‘righteousness is near to be revealed.’
“Among the perplexing difficulties of the last few months, the truth of God has pushed steadily forward in this island field. Earthquakes have shaken and ruined one of our best cities, causing great loss and suffering. Lack of rainfall in a great deal of our territory has destroyed the fruit of labor, and discouraged many. Fever has been among us, with its burning and racking pain. One faithful soldier has fallen before its advance, while others have been laid low for a time. This message that is making known His praise in the islands, that they may wait for his law, does not stop nor pause because of the perplexities that come, but is making its way into dark places, that his judgments may rest for a light of the people.
“Good courage is expressed by the laborers in this West Indian Union field. Separated from one another as we are, we thank God for a truth that binds together, and is the power of God to save the people. As a people, we join with you in this season of seeking God, and personally consecrating ourselves to him for service in our homes and in all the world.”
India
The last message of greeting sent us is from India, the Gibraltar of heathenism. Elder J. L. Shaw writes:—
“Amid the mutterings of unrest, our little band of missionaries in India are doing what they can to advance the message of truth. While the angels of peace hold in check the elements of strife and destruction, our workers in different places are following the opening providences of God. Already a beginning has been made in seven different tongues. Among the Bengali-speaking people, who number forty-four million, we have seven workers, foreign and local. The Hindi and Urdu people, numbering together eighty-seven million, have four foreign and two Indian workers. Two others have recently begun labor among the Tamil people in south India, who number sixteen million. The Burmese, with eight million, have two foreign and three local helpers. The Santals, numbering about two million, have two foreign and four native workers. Aside from these, several are devoting themselves to work in the English language. Thus a beginning is being made in caste-ridden India. There is the shout of battle in the land. Siege is being laid in the very strongholds of Hinduism, and, thank God, souls in different parts of the field are getting deliverance, among both the Indian and the English-speaking people. Recently, a man, formerly a Mohammedan, born in Kashmir, began keeping the Sabbath amid much opposition. Having scores of men in his employ, how to keep the Sabbath holy with his household and the strangers within his gates, is a question which is giving him no little concern.
“Our literature is being widely scattered. We are now issuing tracts, papers, and pamphlets in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Burmese, Tamil, and English, and are finding that small pamphlets can be sold even to the poor. Those who earn only five or ten cents a day are persuaded to buy. A young native convert9sold seven hundred copies of a little booklet in Hindustani on present truth, last month. So the message is going. Our little printing-office at Karmatar is inadequate to the work. Steam power, another press, and more help are needed. Our present power is the India coolie, generally slow, and often unreliable. We should add to our facilities. Scores of tongues must have the message delivered to them in their own language. Our supplication unto God is that organization and equipment necessary to place the warning message of truth in the hands of this vast sea of people in the next few years may be forthcoming.
“We send, in conclusion, a few words of cheer and courage to our beloved brethren in the home land. If God be for us, who can be against us? The battle is fairly on. Though we are doing little, yet the artillery of heaven is at work, and present truth will beat no retreat. Suffering, sacrifice, and death will but hurry on the heralds of our coming King. The chariots of Jehovah will delay no longer, and those among his people who have the faith of Jesus will be his representatives to swell the cry of deliverance among India’s many people. Brethren at home, you are with us in this conflict at the ends of the earth. Pray for the feeble forces at the front. Plead for us night and day, that boldness and the entrance of his Word may be found. Pray that the Mission Board at home may be moved to send your strongest soldiers to heathen lands, and pledge to God that even to the extent of sacrifice and much self-denial you will support such with your means and with your prayers. While we are fighting against heathenism in India, you must fight against heathenism at home—that heathenism which draws tight the purse-strings, and does homage to the god of gold. As you triumph, so will God’s cause triumph; and so shall his work in distant lands.”
A STATION ON THE UGANDA RAILROAD
INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY OFFICE, HAMBURG
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Lesson—No. 2
The Lord’s Prayer
“Hallowed be thy name.”
Memory Verse: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Rev. 4:8.
“The angels veil their faces in his presence. The cherubim and the bright and holy seraphim approach his throne with solemn reverence. How much more should we, finite, sinful beings, come in a reverent manner before the Lord, our Maker.”—Mrs. E. G. White.
The commandments forbid the careless use of God’s name. Ex. 20:7.
We can not truly hallow God’s name, and not also hallow that which he has hallowed or made holy.
The Lord hallowed the seventh day. Ex. 20:8-11. He says to us, “Hallow them, my Sabbaths.” Eze. 20:20.
The presence of God makes a place holy. Joshua 5:15.
The people anciently were taught to reverence the place where God met with his people. Lev. 19:30.
When the first song of praise was sung, at the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 Chron. 5:13, 14.
URDU TRACT, NORTH INDIA
Title, "The Hour of His Judgment Is Come"
The presence of God is especially manifest when his people meet to worship him. Ps. 89:7.
An admonition is given in Eccl. 5:1. The name of God is not hallowed when his Spirit is grieved away from meetings for worship by irreverence. This may be indicated by noisy behavior, laughter, whispering, thoughts of work or play, feelings of pride in our own appearance, or envy of others, carelessness in hearing the word spoken, or any lack of a spirit of devotion.
Closing Song: No. 99, “Hymns and Tunes.”
Duties and Dangers of the Present Hour
By Stephen N. Haskell
S. N. HASKELL
(Reading for Monday, December 16)
We have fallen upon perilous times. Satan has come down having great wrath, for his time is short. Ever since Christ died upon the cross, Satan well knows that his destiny is eternally sealed.
The lake of fire is his portion, and in it he will be brought to ashes upon the earth. This is his portion, and of all them who unite with him in his diabolical work. Eze. 28:14-17; Rev. 20:7-9; Mal. 4:2, 3.
Even among our own people many will be deceived. It is no marvel if we yet see our own ranks greatly thinned. There are many who are of Israel, that are not Israel. When Israel came out of Egypt, there came with them a mixed multitude, who had seen the evidences that God was with Israel, and for motives which were not a real love for the truth, united with the people of God. These were the original murmurers, who caused the Israelites to sin, and thus many were overthrown in the wilderness. None of these individuals entered the promised land. But there were two men who came out of Egypt who followed the Lord fully, and they entered the land of Canaan. So it will be now; but we trust there are many more than two, or even seven thousand, as in the days of Elijah—for there will be one hundred forty-four thousand; yet the numbers of the remnant will be greatly lessened, till those who are true will be developed. When the prophet saw the man who followed the sealing work with the destroying weapon, he cried out, “Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?” Eze. 9:4-8.
God has given his people great light. Every ray of light that has been shining for six thousand years has sent forth its ray of light upon the last generation. The temple of God has been opened in heaven, and there has been seen in the temple the ark of his testament. Its rays have extended to the uttermost parts of the earth. This has filled the hearts of the loyal with courage and hope. But it has enraged Satan so he has come down with great power, knowing that his time is short. His warfare is one of spite; yet nothing can be done against the truth, but for the truth. He who saw the end from the beginning not only saw every trick of the devil, every deception he will and does practise to destroy souls, but he saw a thousand other things he might do, and made provision for them all. The prophet in describing the time just before Christ’s coming, said: “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:8-12. Such is the nature of the warfare in which we are engaged.
Every old controversy will be revived, for there is nothing new under the sun. “Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” “That which is to be hath already been;10and God requireth that which is past.” Eccl. 1:9, 10; 3:15. Would you understand the nature of the apostasies that will take place just prior to the second coming of Christ? If so, study the apostasies recorded in the Bible. Every old apostasy from the fall of man will be acted over in the last generation. Would you know the nature of these apostasies, that you may fully know how to escape them?—The history of the people of God under similar circumstances in the past will inform us. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:5-15.
While Satan will bring upon the field against the remnant every sign and wonder he ever wrought to destroy souls, every deception he ever practised on the human mind and body to lead men away from God, Christ will also bring upon the field, to meet this foe of heaven, every means of grace he has ever used to meet these schemes of Satan, and triumph will be upon the banner of the cross of Christ. Victory will come to every soul who unites himself with our Commander, and puts on his strength, and resists the wily foe. God’s promises to his people are abundant in this time. “I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briars and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Isa. 27:1-6.
The more fierce the struggle, the more deceptive the plans of the arch-deceiver, the greater the victory and the more glorious the triumph. God has led out a people not to perish, but to give them the victory through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is no defeat with the Lord. “For six thousand years that master mind that once was highest among the angels of God, has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin. And all the depths of satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the cruelty developed during these struggles of the ages, will be brought to bear against God’s people in this final conflict.”
“In the great final conflict, Satan will employ the same policy, manifest the same spirit, and work for the same end, as in all preceding ages. That which has been will be, except that the coming struggle will be marked with a terrible intensity such as the world has never witnessed. Satan’s deception will be more subtle, his assaults more determined.” But in the midst of all this, the followers of Christ will bear to the world the warning of the second advent of our Lord. Those who leave the ranks will have their places quickly filled by others, for God will have his number made up of those who love the truth. May the Lord help every reader of these lines to be found like the small army of Gideon that “stood every man in his place round about the camp,” and crying, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.” Judges 7:19-22.
BOYS’ SCHOOL, LO SHAN, HONAN, CHINA
It is no time now in the final conflict to sit idly by, and be neither cold nor hot. All the lukewarm will be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. God calls for the rank and file to enter the work. Every talent is to be put out to usury. He who withholds even one talent by burying it in the earth, will be an unprofitable servant. Cities are to be entered. Books, papers, and tracts containing the truth are to fall like the leaves of autumn. The hunters and fishers will go forth weighted down with the importance of scattering rays of light in every darkened corner of the earth. “They shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.” Jer. 16:14-16; Rev. 18:1.
Angels of God will accompany every worker. Now is the time not to quench the smoking flax or break the bruised reed of any worker, but to breathe the breath of life into every soul who vindicates the truth and gives its influence to scatter the precious rays of light. It was in view of this time, David penned the following:—
“O, God, in thy going forth before thy people, in thy stepping through the wilderness, the earth hath shaken,
Yea, the heavens have dropped before God. Selah.
This Sinai—before God, the God of Israel.
A shower of free-will gifts thou shakest out, O God.
Thine inheritance, when it hath been weary, thou hast established it.
Thy company have dwelt in it,
Thou preparest in thy goodness for the poor, O God.
The Lord doth give the saying,
The female proclaimers are a numerous host.
Kings of hosts flee utterly away,
And a female inhabitant of the house apportioneth spoil.”—Young’s Translation of Ps. 68:7-14.
As in the symbol of the white horse of Revelation 6, the truth goes forth conquering and to conquer. It is a battle and a march. Whoever enters this warfare must arm himself for the fight, putting on the “whole armor of God, that ye may be able to . . . withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” and for all the laborers that they may speak the truth boldly, and open doors may be set before them. Eph. 6:10-19.
Illustrate the perfectness, the promptness, and the completeness with which the angels do the will of the Father in heaven, by referring to Eze. 1:4-28, emphasizing particularly verses 9, 12, 14, and 20, 21; Ps. 103:19, 20.
If we desire the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven, we must do that which God would have us do, as faithfully as the angels do their work.
