The Pleasantville press., 1924-09-27
Adventists Will
Celebrate Jubilee
Local Members Planning to Join
in the Fiftieth Anniversary of
Missionary Endeavor.

The Seventh Day Adventists of this
city are planning to join with other
denominational churches throughout
the world in celebrating their jubilee
of foreign missionary endeavor. Fifty
years ago, in September, the Seventh
Day Adventists sent their first mis-
sionary across the seas. Rev J. N.
Andrews left America at that time for
Switzerland. The membership of the
denomination in North America was
1000, literature was printed in one
language, three periodicals were being
published. one training school was in
operation, and the church as a whole
had an investment of S3S,712.53.
The denomination has had a remark
able growth. until today it is proclaim
ing the advent message in lis coun-
tries. The working force continued to
increase until in 1921, when the last
statistical report was compiled, there
were 1889 evangelists and institution
al workers who are carrying forward
their message in 1914 languages. From
an humble beginning of one publica-
ton, the church has laid much empha-
sis on the Importance of the printed
page, until it now operates 81 publish
ing houses and branches, which have
a total investment in up-to-date ma
chinery and other equipment of S4,
221,575.72. The influence of the Adj
ventist presses has grown to such an
extent that they are printing the gos-
pei story in 154 different periodicals
in ia languages, and were the first In
number OF instances to reduce the
language OF remote people to writing.
Funds for the advancement of the
church have increased in leaps and
bounds During the ten years from
1912 to 1922, the offerings to foreign
missions totaled $17,5S3, ,76091, while
the contributions for all purposes dur
ing that decade amounted to s62, $780,
1883, or a per capita of s39.S6. The
denomination is now operating 224 in
stitutions of different kinds, with a
total investment of s34, ,196,049.15.
Sanitariums and hospitals have been
established in the United States, Eng
land, Canada, South America, Austria
LA, India, China, Japan, Korea, Nor
way, Sweden and Africa. Each year
more than 100000 sufferers are given
medical attention, and because of a
lack of funds Dr. A. W. Purman, the
medical secretary for the denomina-
ton, says urgent appeals from many
places for the extension of this phase
Of the church work must wait.
1t was in 1874, the year when they ,
sent out their first foreign missionary,
that the Adventists established their
first training school. Today they are
operating 5 colleges, junior colleges,
3 seminaries, SO academies, and 672
elementary schools, which have a total
enrolment of 22,60O students. Accord
ding to Prof. w. E. Howell, secretary
of the Educational Department, ''the
aim OF these schools is to develop the
spiritual life, train for service to man.
kind, and equip for the practical du-
ties of every day living" Such schools
have been established in many parts
Of the United States, in the African
wilds, in the jungles of India, in Japan,
Manchuria, South America, China, Eu-
rope and Australia.
Since their first missionary was sent
to Switzerland in 1874, the church has
grown in Europe until it is represent
ed in every country of the continent,
and the latest figures indicated mem
bership of 1850.
Tt y are doing great work among
the Indians of Peru, Ecuador and Bo-
livia. A newspaper of Guayaquil. Ec-
uador, declares the Adventists are do
ing a humanitarian work among the
red men. This paper says that the
efforts of the Adventists "are for the
education and redemption of the Indi
an race, and that their activities in
clude the teaching of the Indians to
read and write and giving medical aid
to the suffering" All of these services
are absolutely gratis.
In speaking of the purpose of the
denomination, c. H. Meyers, secretary
of the Foreign Mission Board, says,
''The church is still adhering to the
principles it stood for so years ago.
We began in obscurity. poverty and
weakness, by sending out our first rep
resentatives, and now, under the bless
ing of God, our missionaries are in
nearly every land, our work is known
by people of every land, and the in
creasing support yearly given by
friends of our cause, with convictions