Chapter 43—The Support of City Missions
Dear Brother M,
A few days ago I received a letter written by you to Elder N, in
which you raise very serious objections to leaving the-----mission to
be supported by your conference, and say that other conferences all
over the field should have an equal interest in this mission. But if these
conferences do not now have important missions to sustain in cities
in their own borders, are there not places where such missions should
be established? If your conference is asked to take the-----mission
under its care and carry it on under the supervision of the General
Conference, the responsible men should feel that this is an evidence
that their brethren have confidence in them, and they should say: “Yes;
we accept the sacred trust. We will do all in our power to make the
mission a success and to show that the confidence of our brethren is not
misplaced. We will ask wisdom of God and will practice self-denial
and rigid economy if necessary.” God will sustain you in the cheerful
performance of this duty and will make it a blessing to you rather than
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a burden, a hindrance to the cause in your state.
That great city is in darkness and error, and we have left it so thus
long. Will God pardon this negligence on our part? What account
shall we give for the men and women who have died without hearing
the sound of present truth, who would have received it had the light
been brought to them? My spirit is stirred that the work in-----has
been delayed so long. The work that is now being done there might
have been done years ago and could then have been accomplished
with far less expenditure of money, time, and labor. Nevertheless it
must not be left undone now. A small beginning has been made on
a very economical plan, and much more has been accomplished than
could have been expected considering the facilities that have been
provided. But better facilities must be furnished. There must be a
place where people can hear the truth. There must be means to support
the workers in this mission field, not in ease and luxury, but in a plain,
comfortable manner. They are God’s instruments, and nothing should
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