p. 516 | Review and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 32. (8/6/1901)

Camp-Meeting Calendar Omitted This Week

The camp-meeting calendar is omitted this week to give space to other things which demanded mention. The places and dates remain the same, however, as last week.

RELIEF OF OUR SCHOOLS.— NO 1.

By Ellen G. White

An Example of Liberality.

WHEN the Lord invited Israel to contribute for the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness, there was a hearty response. The people “came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.” They came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted. Men came with their gifts of gold and silver, choice fabrics, and valuable wood. The rulers brought precious stones, costly spices, and oil for the lights. “And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun.” They brought “free offerings every morning,” until the report was given to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.” Ex. 35: 21-25; 36: 3, 5. This generous-hearted, willing service was pleasing to God, and when the tabernacle was completed, He signified His acceptance of the offering. “A cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Ex. 40: 34.

Akin to this example of willing service has been the work done by our people for the relief of our schools. The generous, whole-hearted way in which our publishing houses and our brethren and sisters in general have taken hold of this enterprise has brought great rejoicing. The Lord is pleased with the earnest effort made to free our schools from debt. It is according to His plan.

THE LORD’S PLAN.

There are, in the divine providence, particular periods when we must arise in response to the call of God, and make use of our means, our time, our intellect, our whole being,—body, soul, and spirit,—in fulfilling His requirements. The present is such a time as this. The interests of God’s cause are at stake. The Lord’s institutions are in peril. Because of the terrible burden of debt under which our schools are struggling, the work is hindered on every side. In our great necessity, God has made a way through the difficulty, and has invited us to co-operate with Him in accomplishing His purpose. It was His plan that the book, “Christ’s Object Lessons,” should be given for the relief of our schools, and He calls upon all who love the truth to do their part in placing this book before the world. In this He is testing His people and His institutions to see if they will work together and be of one mind in self-denial and self-sacrifice.

ALL TO CO-OPERATE.

A good start has been made in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” What is needed now is for all our people to put their shoulder to the wheel. Let there be an earnest, united effort to complete the work that has been so well begun. In the Scriptures we read, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Rom. 12: 11. Every branch of God’s cause is worthy of diligence, but nothing could be more deserving than this enterprise at this time.

A decided work is to be done in accomplishing God’s plan. Let every stroke tell for the Master in the selling of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Let all who possibly can, join the workers.

From the success of the efforts already made, we see that it is far better to obey God’s requirements to-day than to wait for what we might think a more favorable season. We must become men and women of God’s opportunity, for great responsibilities and possibilities are within the reach of all who have enlisted for His service under Christ’s banner.

The present is an opportunity which we cannot afford to lose. God calls us to action, that our educational institutions may be freed from debt. Let God’s plan be worked out after His own order.

We call upon all our people to help to the utmost of their ability just now. We call upon them to do a work which will be pleasing to God in purchasing the book. We ask that every available means be used to assist in its circulation. We call upon the presidents of our Conferences to consider how they can forward this enterprise. We call upon our ministers, as they visit the churches, to encourage men and women to go out as canvassers, and to make a decided forward movement in the path of self-denial by giving part of their earnings for the help of our schools.

A general movement is needed, but this must begin with individual movements. In every church let every member of every family make determined efforts to deny self. Let the children act a part. Let all work together. Let us do our best at this time to render to God our offering, to carry out His specified will, and thus make an occasion for witnessing for Him and His truth in a world of darkness. The lamp is in our hands. Let its light shine forth brightly.

Young men, you who think of entering the ministry, take up this work. The handling of the book placed in your hands by the Lord is to be your educator. In improving this opportunity you will certainly advance in the knowledge of God and of the best methods for reaching the people.

The Lord calls for young men and young women to enter His service. The youth are receptive, fresh, ardent, hopeful. When once they have tasted the blessedness of self-sacrifice, they will not be satisfied unless they are learning constantly of the Great Teacher. The Lord will open ways before those who will engage in His service. He will give them power and success.

Bring into the work an earnest desire to learn how to bear responsibilities. With strong arms and brave hearts go forth into the conflict which all must enter, a conflict that will grow more and more severe as we approach the closing struggle.

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

“THE THING WAS DONE SUDDENLY.”

By P. T. Magan

The task of relieving our schools is a big one; nevertheless, the very fact that the Lord has asked us to do it is a proof that it can be done. God never asks impossibilities. That God is asking us to do it shows that God is confident that we will do it. Certainly it is no harder to relieve the schools than it was to build a tabernacle in the wilderness. Under ordinary circumstances to build a tabernacle in a wilderness would be impossible, but with Israel it was easy, and this is the reason, as it is written: “They came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. . . . And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. . . . And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; and spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”

Now it is clear why the work was so easy. It was because the hearts of so many men and women were “stirred up” to bring a “willing offering unto the Lord.” If hearts are stirred up now, as bless the Lord they are being, then the debts in the schools can be paid, and it will be no trouble at all.

Remember that the Lord has told us that “there are, in the Divine providence, peculiar periods when we must rise in response to the call of God, and make use of our hands, our time, our intellect, and the whole being,— body, soul, and spirit,—in fulfilling His requirements;” and that the present is such a time as this.

Thank the Lord, the word has come, and a good start has been made in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” His own statement is, “What is needed now is for all our people to put their shoulder to the wheel.” He tells us to do this “just now,” and not to wait. Let us not disappoint the Lord, but cheerfully push the Relief of the Schools to a finish.

P. T. MAGAN.

The Total Cash received on the Relief of the Schools Fund up to date is $ 30,149.52.

ROLL OF JUBILEE SINGERS

An order has just been placed with the Review and Herald and the Pacific Press for FIFTY THOUSAND copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” These, and more, too, will be needed for the winter campaign, for everybody is going to sell “Christ’s Object Lessons” this winter. Let us roll in the material money, and roll back the debts. Send the money to Percy T. Magan, Berrien Springs, Mich.

ROLL OF JUBILEE SINGERS.

Name.	Amount.	Name	Amount.
Mr. & Mrs. R. B. Fanton	1.00	Mrs. A. Schaut	3.00
A friend	1.60	Mrs. Goodwin	1.00
Olive Sweet	1.00	Annie Peck	.70
W. H. Cronk	1.00	Horace Bronson	1.00
M. S. N. A. Bowers	1.00	Mrs. F. Hagerman	5.00
Miss Rachel Campbell	1.00	Mrs. R. Butts	1.00
Mrs. S. V. Teck	1.00	J. M. Haines	1.00
Mrs. A. J. Colburn	1.00	L. S. Haines	1.00
Addie A. Jepson	1.00	Mrs. E. R. Hilborn	3.00
Martha E. Luller	1.30	A friend	1.00
Mrs. J. L. Pettis	1.00	D. M. Moore	1.00
Mrs. M. C. Fulton	1.00	Mrs. M. J. MacMillan	5.00
Miss C. J. Rogers	1.00	Mrs. C. E. McKeloy	5.00
Mrs. S. E. Chase	1.00	Miss M. Robinson	2.00
S. Sisson	5.00	Miss A. E. Hambright	10.00
Mrs. Herman Wojahn	2.00	Mrs. E. A. Burkholder	1.00
		Mrs. Sallie C. Starr	1.00
		Mrs. M. E. Wright	1.00
Mrs. Annette Gillespie	1.00	Geo. M. Powell	1.00
Mrs. D. B. Lanches	1.00	Geo. W. Wells	1.00
M. A. Castle	1.00	Wm. Harmon	5.00
Mr. & Mrs. E. W. Buckminster	5.00	Mary Williams	5.00
Mrs. M. J. Hayes	5.00	Emeline Hamilton	2.50
Mrs. Lizzie Clark	1.00	J. W. Graham	1.00
M. A. Sharp	.50	C. Nicholson	.50
N. E. Johnson	1.00	Middletown Sunday-school	1.50
Eleanor McDonald	1.00	Mrs. L. J. Mescoll	1.50
Mrs. E. L. Damon	1.00	A. Thompson	1.00
Sister Jacobs	2.00	R. E. Hitchcock & wife	3.00
Enos Sevy	1.00	Mrs. J. A. Colburn	2.00
J. Pesterfield	1.00	Harvey	2.00
Willa Eberman	1.00	Adam Rae	1.00
F. A. Ploeger	2.50	J. G. Nash	1.00
Helen Longley	1.00	Mrs. Margaret Owen	1.00
A. D. Smith & wife	2.00	Jessie Welsh	2.00
Mollie R. Long	1.00	Dr. & Mrs. G. W. Pendleton	5.00
J. Q. Allison	2.00	C. & E. Beaman	2.00
Nora King	1.00	Mr. & Mrs. H. A. Washburn	2.00
Mr. & Mrs. H. L. Parish	3.50	A friend	1.00
John Cutler	5.00	Geo. Klopfenstein	1.00
Mrs. Tillie Daviw	1.00	W. J. Mills, M. D.	1.00
D. F. Davis	1.00	J. H. Buel	2.00
J. Loderberg	2.00	John Sauerwein	1.00
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Robinson	10.00	Thos. Blakely	1.00
Mrs. Frances Ely	1.00	Sarah F. Owen	1.00
Mrs. Margaret Clouse	1.00	Mrs. H. V. Weaver	1.00
W. J. Singletary	2.00	Fred Gronemiar	1.00
C. B. Rossier	1.50	E. S. Smith	1.00
Mrs. E. L. Horn	1.00	Mr. & Mrs. S. A. Manger	3.00
O. P. Galloway	10.00	Mrs. Mattie Reed	1.00
Mr. & Mrs. L. E. Atkin	2.00	H. A. Hebard	1.00
Eva, Albert, Loui & M. L. Dickson	1.50	C. L. Leavenworth	1.00
Sarah E. Kiger	1.00	Mrs. Z. E. Prout	1.00
Mrs. E. A. Hoyt	1.00	Thos. F. Lewis	10.00
A friend	10.00	Mrs. M. L. Fry	8.00
A. Ebert	1.00	Mrs. Mary Rounds	5.00
W. H. Massey	1.00	Nellie Higby	2.00
J. A. Garner	2.00	I. N. Hall	1.25
Mrs. Kate Davis	1.00	Mrs. M. J. Post	1.00
A. Zendner	1.00	Mrs. Mary Kelsey	1.00
Charles Hansen	10.00	J. O. & T. F. Johnson	2.00
Mrs. John Bradley	1.00	A. H. Booth	2.00
Robert Cowan	5.00	Elie Warrichait	5.00
Rebecca Clark	2.00	Mrs. Eugene Breed	1.00
John M. Potts	1.00	Frank O. Hardy	1.00
M. J. Martin	1.00	J. E. Kingsbury	5.00
J. Sain	2.00	N. S. West	2.00
August Glatt	1.00	Angus Ferguson	2.50
R. Rosteter	1.00	Mrs. Ferguson	2.50
Mrs. John Holeton	1.00	A. J. Hill	.50
Roena Moore	1.50	M. V. Miller	1.00
		P. G. Hobbs	1.00

SHALL THE WORK AT NASHVILLE GO FORWARD?

By Ellen G. White

THERE are few now living who know what hard, uphill work it was to establish the publishing work in Battle Creek and in Oakland. My husband and I understood by experience the difficulty of this undertaking. And now, after thirty years of advancement, I find that it is just as difficult to make a beginning in Nashville, just as hard to accomplish that which the Lord has declared should be done in establishing a publishing house in the Southern field.

The feebleness of our efforts in behalf of the Southern field is a reproach to a people claiming to be missionaries. The work in this field is just as important as the work in any other locality, but it has been hindered by the unsanctified judgment and influence of some claiming to be laborers in the Lord’s vineyard.

Nashville is to be a center for the Southern work, and from this center the light of truth is to shine forth to the regions round about. There is much to be done to properly establish the work in this place. The cause of truth must be represented by institutions established as memorials for God. There must be in Nashville a well-equipped publishing-house, from which the literature specially prepared for the Southern field can be issued as cheaply as possible. Every effort must be put forth to make this work a success. This is God’s work, and He desires those who believe His truth to take an interested part in it. In the Southern field the truth is to go forth as a lamp that burneth.

There must also be established in Nashville a school for the colored people and a school for the whites, and a sanitarium for the care of the sick. In these institutions laborers are to be trained for work in other parts of the South.

And when the work in Nashville is established, efforts are to be made in other cities. The message of warning is to be proclaimed in all the cities of the South.

The work on the publishing house in Nashville has been well begun. But, seeing the embarrassment that comes through the burden of debt, the managers of the work in Nashville agreed that they would proceed no faster in the work of building than the means in hand would warrant. They determined not to go in debt in the erection of the printing office, but to follow the instruction, “Work by faith, and plan by faith, but do not run in debt.” As soon as they had money enough, they bought stone to lay the foundation. Next they hired men to dig the trench and lay the wall; then they bought lumber enough to put up the framework of the first story; then they bought siding for this story; then they went on with the second and third stories. Their great desire was to get the office roofed and inclosed, so that they could put in their machinery.

But the last news we had from them was, “We have come to a standstill. We can go no further till we get means.” When I heard this, I was greatly distressed. I hired four hundred dollars at five per cent interest, and sent it to Nashville to be used till other means could be sent. To prevent loss of time, I shall hire more money, if I can, for this purpose, until my brethren and sisters throughout the field awaken to their duty, and act their part in raising the money necessary for the advancement of this work.

At a time like this shall the work in Nashville be allowed to come to a standstill? I call upon our people everywhere to do something to advance this enterprise. This work is not in a far country; it is at your own door, and in it God desires His people to help earnestly and generously. God abhors the indifference with which this home missionary field has been treated. The selfishness which for years has hindered the work must be repented of. Let us do something to help, and do it now.

I have been shown that those in the Review and Herald and those in the Pacific Press will be inclined to invest unnecessarily to make the work in these institutions convenient. The Lord has instructed me to say to them, Bind about your supposed wants until you have done your duty toward the Southern field. Do not add to your already abundant facilities until you have done what God has signified should be done for this field. Take up the work interestedly, nobly, and faithfully. Act the part God expects you to act in the establishment of the work in the South.

The necessities of the field call for immediate action. I call upon all who can to help in the establishment of the work in Nashville. Be God’s helping hand. Help where help is needed. Take hold with us in assisting the workers in the South.

We acknowledge with gratitude the donations so willingly made to the work in Nashville by our friends in College View, Denver, Boulder, Waitsburg, Portland, and Oakland. We thank you for your help. It has greatly aided the work. And we now extend the appeal for help to all our people in America. Remember that Christ does not promise the reward of the overcomer to those who are not willing to be faithful soldiers in the conflict between good and evil.

Christ says, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” Each believer in Christ has a personal responsibility to fulfill. No one is excused from doing his duty. God lays upon those in His service the responsibility of co-operating with Him in advancing His work. In place of seeking to bar the way against entering new fields, every soul should try to answer the calls for help which come from unworked fields.

It is not for one class alone that we are to labor, but for all. Those for whom Christ gave His precious blood are to be instructed and enlightened. The people to whom the light of truth has come are to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice, rejoicing in the privilege of denying self for Christ’s sake.

Oh, when will Seventh-day Adventists arise and build up the work in the Southern field? How long and how hard shall we have to labor that our people may see what needs to be done and do it? Let no obstruction be placed in the way of those who are willing to work. Let no one refuse to make straight in the desert—the dark places of the earth—a highway for our God. Plow the field. Remove the stones.

God is looking upon the men in responsible positions, to see if they will do unselfishly the work intrusted to them. If they refuse to do this work, He will say, “Let it be given to those who will honor the trust reposed in them.” “Consider,” the Lord says, “whether you are faithful to your trust.” Are you returning fruit in due season to the Owner of the vineyard? Are you cultivating the barren wastes and sowing the seeds of truth? Let our institutions co-operate intelligently with God, lest they be left barren of resources. If they do not strive earnestly to plant the standard of truth in the cities and countries which have never heard the message of warning, God will find another way of accomplishing His purpose.

I am instructed to say, Let all who claim to be in God’s service remember that He has declared that His vineyard shall be worked. He is continually opening the way for the parts of His vineyard hitherto neglected to be cultivated. He has intrusted means to His stewards to use in advancing the work which He has commissioned His servants to do. He sends forth His messengers, telling them to receive from His stewards means for the carrying forward of His work. If His stewards fail to respond, He will pass on to other agencies, and will remove His gifts from His unfaithful stewards, who by their selfishness close the doors He has opened for the flowing forth of His blessings.

God says, “My son, give, me thy heart, thy time, thy talents.” He wants no unbelief, no stinginess. He wants you to give Him the first fruits of the life—love, faith, strength. Reveal that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. Cease to live for self. Live wholly for God. Give Him the best hours of the day and the best energies of the being. If, laying down every selfish aim and interest, God’s people would give Him the best of all they have, if they would seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, they would rise higher and higher in Christian nobility and liberality.

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Southern Publishing Association,

1025 Jefferson St., Nashville, Tenn.

*In response to the appeal by Sister White for the publishing work at Nashville, inclosed find $— to aid in building and equipping the publishing house at Nashville.*

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