With reference to the attitude of the Christian world toward the Apocrypha in the early decades of the nineteenth century, it should be remembered that the Apocrypha was included not only in the Catholic Version, but in many Protestant Bibles as well, and was so published by the British and Foreign Bible Society up until 1827. The Apocryphal books were consequently familiar ground to most Christians back in the forties. The general attitude of the Christian world toward the Apocrypha was quite different eighty or ninety years ago from what it is today, when most Bible readers are unfamiliar with it. Allusions to or quotations from the Apocrypha were neither uncommon, nor thought strange at that time. They would not be misunderstood either by the world at large, nor by the advent believers. The acquaintance of Elder White with a few somewhat similar expressions in Second Esdras, and his citation thereof, constitutes a very different matter in the light of this fact, and hi contrast to the present attitude of Protestantism. James White also cites one verse, 2 Esdras 7:26, in one of his own articles, on page 23 of that twenty-four page pamphlet, "A Word to the Little Flock."
Aside from the question of the propriety of attaching any footnotes whatever to Sister White's articles in "A Word to the Little Flock," criticisms of James White for his allusions to an Apocryphal book are hardly in place in the light of the time and the circumstances. The spiritual gift under discussion had been we have made large sacrifices, but we have not given our lives.
During the past years God has been liberal with us. We have had a comfortable wage, as the world goes. We have had convenient homes in which to live. We have been able to dress properly. We have generally had plenty of good food. Most of our workers have had a car, which has afforded pleasure as well as service. We have had vacations and visits to relatives and friends. So, on the whole, most of us have fared better as workers than the average. The time has now come when, like God's servants in ages past, we are called to make a greater sacrifice for the cause of truth. Our love must measure itself in action, and that action must be quick and whole-hearted.
We cannot maintain our work at the ends of the earth without larger sacrifices as a people. In places, our line is at the breaking point. Some of our workers in these far-flung fields write us that another cut will leave them without suitable food and clothing for their families. We cannot call these missionaries home, and yet we must increase our income to hold them there. We are face to face with a deficit at the end of the year unless our income increases approximately $400,000. Such a situation calls for quick action to save our missions, and in it we as leaders must take the lead. I appeal to you as ministers of the gospel, leaders in the work, for a still stronger leadership and a larger service in this critical hour of the work. We must stand shoulder to shoulder in this hour.
We are asking that our Midsummer Offering, July 22, be more than a usual offering for missions. Our united cry must be unto God to spare His work and arouse His people. There should be a larger surrender of means. It will take all to buy the field. We should lay plans for this special offering without delay. The envelopes to be distributed read on the outside:
Save Our Missions
Midsummer Offering, July 22
Begin Now by placing your sacrifices and savings in this envelope for collection, Sabbath, July 22
Surely it is not too much to seek to reach an average goal of $1 per member for the Midsummer Offering. Some may not be able to give that much, while others can give much more. Let us make these facts known. Let us appeal to our people to give as God has prospered us, that we may meet the present outstanding need. God calls us as leaders of the people to our knees for a larger vision and consecration, and from our knees to quick, determined action to save our missions in 1933.
Yours in His service,
J. L. SHAW.
