p. 363 | WHAT NEXT? by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 3, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 23

WHAT NEXT?

By S. N. Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

The cause of present truth is aggressive. From its commencement its course has been steadily onward. A battle and a march is the order of the day. First, a few, believing that the prophecy of Rev. 14:9-12; Rev. 7, and other parallel texts, applied to their time, began to observe and teach the seventh-day Sabbath, trusting that God would add his blessing, and the work would prosper. In this they were not disappointed. Soon the publishing work was commenced; then came organization, and systematic benevolence for the support of the ministry. The health reform and educational interests next demanded attention; and over each of these advance moves there was a battle to be fought. They required means. The covetous cried out, “You are too fast; you are becoming like the world;” “It is money, money you are after.” Thus it has ever been. It was so in the days of Luther; it was so in the time of the Wesleys; it is so now. The Jews said that John the Baptist had a devil, and that Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners, a glutton and a wine-bibber. Satan is ever dissatisfied when the cloud arises, and the people move forward.

Some drop off at one point and some at another. Some continue for a time much as the ox goes in the sling to be shod; but finally they lose their hold on the truth, and the truth loses its hold on them, and they are carried away by the customs of society and the ways of the world. But notwithstanding all this, the work of God has gathered strength at every advance step, until to-day there is no civilized nation but that has witnesses to present truth. This truth is published in five of the principal languages of the world, in periodicals having an aggregate monthly circulation of over one hundred thousand copies.

About ten years ago our brethren felt the necessity of more thorough organization, so that each individual’s influence might be more directly brought to bear in the work of extending the light of present truth. Accordingly our tract and missionary societies were organized; and they have accomplished much in the way of placing the truth before others. The Signs of the Times, our pioneer sheet, has during the last two months increased its circulation nearly three thousand copies; so that the first of May, 1880, its issue was the largest ever sent out to regular subscribers. Its circulation was then fully ten thousand copies. Now, it is more. We expect before the year 1880 closes it will exceed 20,000 copies. God is giving us the field. We look to our tract societies, with the co-operation of our ministers, for the accomplishment of a far greater work in a short time than we have yet witnessed. There is

ANOTHER STEP

which our tract societies should take immediately; namely, placing the Signs of the Times and Good Health in every respectable reading room in the country. “Spirit of Prophecy” and our leading denominational works should also be placed in all the public libraries. Our reading matter must come before the people. The interest taken by ministers and agents to sell our publications is right, and should increase more and more, until the eleven power presses now in active service will be run night and day to furnish our missionary workers with the printed truth for the people.

Steps should immediately be taken by our tract-society officers to ascertain the number of libraries in their respective Conferences that will receive our leading denominational works, also the reading rooms that will accept the periodicals above alluded to. This can be done by the directors, and persons whom the President of each tract society may appoint. Then at the camp-meetings, when the annual meetings of the various tract societies are usually held, the necessary arrangements can be made; so that when the long evenings come, and people begin to go to these places for reading matter, our publications will be awaiting them.

Pledges can be taken at the camp-meetings to carry out this work. The reserve fund raised by most of our societies should not be used up for this purpose. This fund simply furnishes capital until the pledges can be paid after harvest.

Ten thousand volumes should be thus used during the next six months. We have brethren in every Conference who will willingly furnish one hundred dollars each to do this. We are living in momentous times; the work is fast closing. Instead of diminishing our sacrifices, we should increase them. Instead of our efforts being weaker, they should be put forth with greater energy than ever before.