From London to Basle
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day, at certain seasons of the year, we see the soldiers training, so that
they may be ready, when needed, to engage in actual service. As we
have watched the progress of the drill, and from time to time noted
the thoroughness manifest in every department, the query has arisen,
Why should there not be in Basle a large army of Christian soldiers
drilling for actual service in the battles to be fought in the different
countries of Europe against tradition, superstition, and error? Why
should those who are preparing to fight the battle for Prince Immanuel
be less earnest, less painstaking, less thorough, in their preparation for
the spiritual warfare?
Basle has for years been a prominent missionary station among
other denominations. Here is located a missionary college in which
young men are being educated, and from which some are sent out
to foreign lands every year. There are also in the immediate vicinity
several other missionary educational institutions. It was in one of these
that Bro. Erzenberger was receiving his education when the truth first
found him.
We know of no better place in Europe for us to educate workers
than right here in Basle. The new office affords an excellent opportu-
nity for persons to learn various branches of the work, and we would
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like to see scores of young men and women connected with the office,
drilling for the Master’s service. We believe that the time is not far
distant when a school will be connected with the work here, so that
workers may be more thoroughly prepared to go forth as missionaries,
and also that those of our brethren who have children may have a place
to send them where they will not be obliged to attend school on the
Sabbath. We are grateful that some efforts are now being made to
train young people to go forth as soldiers of the cross of Christ to war
against the enemies of truth. But we regret that these efforts are so
crippled because of our limited means.
The people of God are not half awake. A stupor seems to be
paralyzing their sensibilities. Each of us will soon have to stand before
the Judge of all the earth, to answer for the deeds done in the body. All
will then have to give an account for the good they might have done,
but did not do because they were not so closely connected with God
that they could know his will and understand his claims upon them. If
the money that has been expended annually by our brethren in selfish
gratification had been placed in the mission treasury, where there is