THE RIGHT TIME by S. N. Haskell

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 11, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 24

THE RIGHT TIME.

By S. N. Haskell

We have now reached the most important time of the year for our missionary workers. The harvest is over, and at this season publishers urge out their agents to place their reading matter in thousands of families, for their entertainment during the long winter evenings. Seventh-day Adventists should not be behind in this respect, and allow the children of this world to be wiser in their generation than the children of light. Each president and officer of our tract societies, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, should at once bring into line his army of workers, and move forward. The cloud is rising, and the providence of God calls us to take advance steps.

There are before the tract societies two special fields of labor,—home missionary work, and labor for those outside of our faith. Hundreds of our brethren and sisters are dying spiritually for want of activity in the cause of God. Such should be visited, prayed with, and encouraged to take hold anew in the service of the Master. In many of our churches the blood of precious souls will be found in the skirts of those filling responsible positions, because of a neglect of home missionary work. Those holding positions in our tract societies and in our churches should know the standing of each member connected with the church. They should ascertain if all are taking our periodicals.

THE ADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD should be in every household. There is no reading matter which can fill its place. We are acquainted with the influence of this paper upon families from Maine to California, and have never known a family of Seventh-day Adventists that had not the privilege of reading this paper, in which there was not a lack. It is our church paper, and a means of grace to help the church. The constant appeals it contains are designed to point the mind to our present duty, and hence it is a great spiritual help. These appeals cannot be found in any other periodical issued by Seventh-day Adventists. Shall we let our brethren die a spiritual death in our midst, while we associate with them daily, and do not put forth an effort to save them? We cannot afford it. If we do, it will appear against us in the day of Judgment. If a family is too poor to pay for the paper, the church should supply it. A few years ago, when a few leading brethren were personally acquainted with all our churches, every family who professed our views took the REVIEW. Our numbers have largely increased, but those taking the REVIEW do not increase in proportion, and many families are not taking one of our periodicals. Some one is responsible for this.

We appeal to our missionary workers everywhere. Look after those connected with you in church fellowship. The name of each individual brother or sister, and the names of their children, should be on the S. B. book. The testimonies should not only be in each church, but should be read by each family. All should become interested in the missionary work.

In view of the Judgment, and for the sake of souls for whom Christ died, this work should not be neglected. Commence now; do not wait one week. Remember you are your brother’s keeper; and God will inquire as anciently, “Where is thy brother?”

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

There is no one phase of the missionary work at the present time that is accomplishing so much for the spread of the truth as the reading of The Signs of the Times. The Judgment alone will reveal the good accomplished by so doing. Could our eyes be opened, and could we see the moral darkness which rests upon the people and view the work of our vigilant missionary societies, we should see rays of light emanating from them to all parts of the world. We wish here to state, for the encouragement of those interested in this branch of the work, and also for those who edit and publish this pioneer paper, a few things which we know to be true.

1. Our missions in England, Italy, and Egypt were commenced by sending reading matter, and largely The Signs of the Times.

2. We have those interested in the Sabbath reform in the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, in Turkey, Scotland, Ireland, Africa, India, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and in nearly every Southern State in this country, besides British America and other portions of the world. This has been accomplished through reading matter sent them, and the Signs has been the most prominent instrument, under God, in awakening this interest.

3. Since the vigilant missionary societies have become more fully organized, there is a gradual increase in the number of permanent subscribers to this paper, until at the present time, taking from one quarter to another, there will be an increase of over one thousand this year. And these subscribers are not our brethren, but individuals living in all parts of the civilized world. Frequently individuals receive the paper sent by some V. M. society, and thinking it came from the Signs office, they will subscribe for it, and then because they have subscribed, they may never respond to the letter sent them by the one who mailed the Signs. With these facts before us, comes the important question.

WHAT WILL OUR TRACT SOCIETIES DO THIS COMING WINTER?

Will we increase our clubs of the Signs? We are fast approaching the time when this message will swell into the loud cry; will our tract societies now slacken their hand in this work? Will our V. M. societies lessen the number they are now taking, for the coming year? Our efforts should increase. We are acquainted with a number of V. M. societies in the country who are taking from one hundred to three hundred copies, who could use, if they had them, five hundred copies. Others are not having that interest and success. We have been led to ask, Why are not all V. M. societies thus successful? Their lack is attributable (1.) to a lack of consecration and devotion to the work; (2.) to a failure in the method of conducting the society; or (3.) to not having proper persons to manage it. This last evil grows out of the two former. A remedy for the first is found in being baptized with the spirit of the third angel’s message. A careful examination of the Constitution for the tract societies, and following the method there recommended, will remedy the second evil; and then the third will no longer exist. Enclosing five cents to the REVIEW AND HERALD will bring you, by return mail, one of these constitutions.

WHAT IS WANTED.

We want our ministers and officers to take hold of this matter immediately. Each company of our friends, wherever the English language is spoken, should have a club of the Signs, varying from ten to five hundred copies, in proportion to the size of the company, and the means which they can command to pay for them. They can be paid for in monthly installments. The Constitution gives full directions for getting up a club, organizing a V. M. society, procuring addresses of persons to whom to send the paper, etc.; every Seventh-day Adventist should have one. Individuals living alone should take a club of the Signs, and remail them weekly. Villages should be canvassed by devoted men and women. Hundreds of our brethren and sisters who take no special interest in the missionary work, with proper encouragement would take hold and do something.

We feel anxious about this matter. Our ministers do not feel the importance and burden of this work as they should. It requires prayerful thought and study to do God’s work successfully. Shall we not arouse as never before, and put the armor on? There is no failure in this work. God’s special providence is over it. Not a week passes but we learn of individuals or companies in different portions of this country and in far-off nations, that are embracing the truth, some from reading the Bible, and others from a stray tract providentially falling into their hands; but more from reading the Signs than from any other one means.

God would teach us a lesson from this. If we would co-operate with him, we must be up and doing. We are not half awake to the importance of the present hour. All the powers of fallen angels and wicked men combined cannot stop the work of God. The Almighty arm is beneath it to uphold it and carry it forward to a successful issue. God’s promises are to those who identify their interests with his precious cause, so that whether we triumph or not depends upon the course we pursue. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chron. 16:9.

WHY STAND YE HERE IDLE?

Hundreds of our brethren who are now doing nothing, should take hold of this work. Our publications, containing the precious truths for this time, must be judiciously distributed until they fall like the leaves of autumn upon every portion of the civilized globe; and at present there is nothing better adapted to this work than The Signs of the Times. Those who now use their influence and utmost efforts in encouraging words, prayers, and means to spread this work, will share in the reward when Christ comes to give every man according as his work shall be.

To the sisters especially do we appeal. When the V. M. societies were first organized, it was with the view of bringing into the service of God talents which were buried in household cares. Not that any should neglect these home duties, but that all might have a consciousness of doing something which would directly tell in sending out the light and truth. The influence of all is greatly needed, and God holds us responsible for the talents which we possess. To mail a few copies of the Signs, write a few letters, and seek God’s blessing upon the work each week, will divert the mind and bring joy and gladness to the soul. Do not say that you have not time. Read Sr. White’s article in the latter portion of the T. and M. Constitution. Take the time in which you are fostering pride in your children’s hearts by decorating their persons and dress with ruffles, flounces, etc., to do this. One work will bring bitter anguish and tears of remorse in the day of Judgment; the other, glittering stars in the crown of righteousness which you may wear in glory. Which do you prefer? This question need not be asked; we know which each would choose. There should not be a single company of our people who understand the English language without a club of the Signs, for this winter and the coming year. Let the sisters feel that here is a field for them. The brethren should help them pay for the paper and assist in every possible way. My young sisters, here is a field of labor for you. Do not let your life be an aimless and fruitless one, bearing nothing but leaves. Think of God and Heaven, and precious souls for whom Christ died. Do something each week which can tell directly to the advancement of God’s work.

Families living alone should have a club of the Signs to work with. This work need not be confined to the sisters alone, but as the brethren have leisure through the winter months they can apply themselves earnestly to the work. All, all, should lift, and lift together in the cause of present truth; now is the working time, and God will bless the workers.

We wish it understood that what we say here to our American brethren, we also say to our Norwegian, French, and German brethren and sisters. God’s cause is one. The providence of God has given us periodicals in these various tongues, and they should be widely circulated. We confidently expect to see a work accomplished this coming year that we have never witnessed in any year since this message began to be proclaimed. We say to our friends everywhere, Have courage in God. The cloud is rising. Go forward! The sea will divide, and those who pass through will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, upon the other shore.

S. N. HASKELL.