p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 54. (11/2/1916)

Earlier text: How the Mission Fields Call Again for Earnest Praying and Liberal Giving

The Calls for the Gospel

By W. T. KNOX.

OUR people everywhere are interested in the progress of the gospel message to the world. There is no subject in which they take a keener interest than the proclamation of this advent message. We believe, too, that there is no contribution more cheerfully and gladly given than the one that is to support and advance the gospel in the regions beyond. From October 10 to 20, the members of the General Conference Committee in the United States and Canada have been engaged in considering the calls that have come in from the superintendents of the mission fields for the year 1917, and have searched carefully to see how many of the plans for advancement that were asked for could be supported, if started.

It was ascertained that to meet all the calls that our brethren in the mission fields had recorded, together with the cost of administration and departmental expenses, would demand an outlay of $778,400.04. This amount, however, was much in excess of the estimated income. After a careful examination of the budgets it was found necessary to eliminate $98,326.47, so that the total expense for the 1917 budget is estimated at $680,073.57. This amount is apportioned as follows:—

Asia is to receive $358,202.61, which is to be divided among the mission fields in that division as follows:—

General work of the Division. $36,931.69 China Missions Training School 4,559.91 Signs of the Times Publishing House, Shanghai 3,640.13 West China 13,463.11 Central China 33,431.60 North China 7,196.37 East China 32,604.02 South China 40,779.64 Manchuria 6,528.00 Korea 27,690.00 Japan 16,865.18 Philippines 22,027.91 Malaysia 21,534.27 India 90,950.78

The South African field, including the mission stations in Central Africa, will receive $59,578.08; and South America $87,674.00, which is to be distributed among the following mission fields:—

South American Division, general $ 4,740.15 Austral Union Conference, including Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay 24,748.00 Brazil 22,287.50 Inca Union Mission, including Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru 35,898.44

The West Indian Union Conference, which includes British, French, and Dutch Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the Lesser Antilles, is to receive an appropriation of $21,245.79.

To the Northern Latin American Missions the following appropriations were made:—

Northern Latin Missions, general $1,800.00 Cuba 7,887.44 Guatemala 2,380.00 Haiti 3,381.00 Porto Rico 5,946.79 North Honduras 663.00 South Honduras 1,315.00 Mexico 7,796.77 Salvador 1,480.00 Total $32,650.00

The Bahama Islands will receive $228; the Hawaiian field, $1,800.

All the above-mentioned appropriations are in addition to that which will be contributed locally in each field.

In addition to the above expenses, there is reserved: For special appropriations, $24,200; for publishing the Harvest Ingathering papers, $35,000; for the Sustentation Fund, $14,500; and for administrative, departmental, and general expenses of the General Conference, $45,000.

We regretted that not every call could be answered, and a large provision be made for still further advance work, but that was impossible with the prospective income for missions for the year 1917.

As we contribute from our personal funds for the mission fields, let us not fail to remember at the throne of grace the workers who have gone to other fields to labor in giving the gospel message.

W. T. KNOX.

Every Week a “Week of Prayer”

DOUBTLESS many who receive great blessings during this special season for seeking God will resolve to make every week during the year to come a “week of prayer.” Surely our only safety is in keeping the channel of communication open between the soul and God, “so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life purity and holiness flow back to God.” It is worth everything to a child of God to form the habit of keeping a daily appointment with him.

We are glad to believe that every year there are a larger number of individuals, young and old, all around the world who are keeping the Morning Watch. Away up in the top of the Andes, in an Indian hut, our workers found a Morning Watch Calendar which was being faithfully followed.

So, in many lands, we believe, the spirit of prayer is growing. When all God’s people learn to use this golden key which unlocks the boundless resources of the Omnipotent One, the great power of God will be seen in the finishing of his work.

The Morning Watch Calendar for 1917 is based on that wonderful book of devotion, the Psalms. Every Seventh-day Adventist should procure a copy and use it.

School Workers for Porto Rico

LAST week Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Jacobsen, of Iowa, sailed from New York for Porto Rico, having accepted the call to school work in that mission field.

West Indian Union Committee Meeting

An important meeting of the West Indian Union Committee has been called for November 24, in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Prof. J. L. Shaw, of the General Conference, has been asked to attend, and will doubtless be sailing this week. He will spend some little time in the South Caribbean field.

General Meetings in the Far East

By the S. S. “Empress of Asia,” sailing from Vancouver November 2, Elder and Mrs. A. G. Daniells and Elder and Mrs. W. T. Knox are leaving for the general meetings in the Far East, which will conclude with the Asiatic Division Conference, to be held in Shanghai, China, early in April. Elder Daniells will attend the annual meetings in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, and northern China, while Elder Knox attends the meetings in India, Burma, Malaysia, and southern China.

Families for the Asiatic Division

Two families for the Asiatic Division are sailing with the party November 2. They are J. S. Barrows and his wife and little daughter, for the Philippines, and Brother and Sister Nathan Brewer for China. Brother Barrows was called from the counting-room of the Review and Herald, to act as secretary and treasurer of the Philippine Mission. Brother Brewer was field missionary agent in Maine, being released by that conference to lead the publishing work in one of the divisions of the Chinese field.

Returning Missionaries to China

SAILING from Vancouver November 2, Brother W. E. and Mrs. Gillis, with their son Ithiel, are returning to China, after furlough. By the same boat Elder J. P. Anderson is returning to south China. He was compelled to come to America with Sister Anderson last spring, as the latter was stricken with a very serious tropical malady. But Sister Anderson has made such good progress toward recovery that Elder Anderson feels it safe for him to leave for his field, allowing her to follow next year if her health is sufficiently restored.

Crisler Called to Asiatic Division

Having accepted a call to the Asiatic Division, Brother C. C. Crisler, of California, is sailing from Vancouver November 2. It is expected that he will engage in editorial work, especially in the preparation of book literature for the Far East. For a number of years Brother Crisler was a helper in Sister White’s office in St. Helena. The development of the publishing work in the Asiatic field has for some time made it evident that help was required to give special attention to the book literature for translation into the various tongues. We are glad to see Brother Crisler added to the Division staff. He leaves his family to follow later when the question of location is fully settled.

Oklahoma Court Upholds Sabbath Freedom

ELDER C. S. LONGACRE, Secretary of the Religious Liberty Department, has received a telegram stating that the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma has just handed down a favorable decision in the cases of our brethren who were prosecuted before a lower court for violating the Sunday laws. In so doing the highest court of the State reversed the decision of the lower court, and exempted our people from the obligation of observing Sunday when they have observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. We should praise God for this decision in behalf of religious liberty.

Death of Dr. David Paulson

It is with deep sorrow that we learn of the death of Dr. David Paulson, medical superintendent of the Hinsdale Sanitarium, which occurred October 15, at Asheville, N. C., where he had gone in the hope of obtaining relief by a change of climate. A fuller sketch of his life will appear later. We extend to his devoted wife, brothers, and other mourning relatives, our sincere sympathy.