p. 170 | THE TRUTH IS ONWARD by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1885

THE TRUTH IS ONWARD.

By S. N. Haskell

It is evident that God’s providence has gone before his work, and that it is preparing hearts in all parts of the wide harvest field for the reception of the solemn truths which relate to this time. The work itself is developing character, and people are brought to take a stand for or against the truth. The prophet, in describing these times in which we live, says that there are “multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision.” Even among those who are connected with the work, there are those who do not recognize the special providence of God which is over it. The truth of God is reaching the hearts of the honest, and one here and another there is being affected by it, and taking his stand.

We are in constant receipt of encouraging letters from our city missions, the South, and in fact from all points where efforts have been put forth for the advancement of the truth. The work is progressing in New Orleans. In a letter received from there, dated Feb. 23, I take the following:— “I write to let you know that the work is onward in this place. The brethren thought they would try to sell the Signs, and yesterday they sold two dollars and ten cents’ worth. The Signs are prized very highly here, and we could use a thousand copies. People come to the exhibit and ask for them. After they take one copy they want more. Eld. — preached in the Presbyterian church north of the Exposition grounds last evening, and has an appointment to give the people a Bible-reading on Wednesday next. A Bible-reading has been held in another part of the city, and there are appointments for more. Two families have embraced the Sabbath, and others are interested. Bro. — is doing well with the “Sunshine” and Signs.”

Respecting the city mission in Portland, we make the following extract from a letter just received:— “We need more laborers. There are quite a number of places where Bible-readings might be held every week, but those who do that kind of work have all they can attend to now. Bro. H. is busy all the time; holds Bible-readings afternoons and evenings. Several new ones are becoming interested, and I think some of them will obey. One young lady made a start yesterday, and her husband thought that he ought to, but wished first to give the subject a more thorough investigation. Three of our canvassers took eighty-three orders for ‘Sunshine’ last week, besides delivering some for which they had taken orders before. We have encouraging reports from different parts of the State. Many books are being sold, and many subscriptions are being taken for the REVIEW and Signs.”

Bro. Robinson writes from the Boston mission:— “During the month of February I have held Bible-readings nearly every night, and visited what I could during the day. Wherever I have met people and conversed with them, I have tried to sell them something if nothing more than a few tracts or a copy of the Signs. In this way I have taken $20 during the month, and have succeeded in getting into many new homes. If we had five or ten who could go out and hold Bible-readings, places could be found for them every night. One person, a lady, kept last Sabbath, and we have just heard of a man who has decided to keep next Sabbath. One man last night subscribed for the Signs a year without our asking him to do so. L. — went out part of three days last week and took twelve good, reliable orders for Vol. IV. of ‘Great Controversy,’ several conditional orders, and two subscriptions for the Signs one year.”

The New York reading-room reports an increasing interest:— “The table is filled much of the time during the day with readers, and the Sunday afternoon meetings are also increasing in interest. Quite a number have become interested, and several seem to be on the point of keeping the Sabbath.”

Thus the work is progressing in the eastern cities. Cities in the West where we have missions could doubtless report even more favorably than these. Those who had a part in the Advent movement, forty years ago, will remember that just before the loud cry of the first angel’s message the truth went to the cities. There seems to be every indication that this experience may soon be repeated in the third angel’s message.

Since writing the above we have received the following from New Orleans:— “The work here is still progressing. I will send you the name of a lady who wishes to engage in the missionary work. She is anxious to send reading matter to friends who do not have church privileges. Those persons of whom I wrote you, observed last Sabbath with us, and there are others who are interested and I think will take hold of the truth. It seems to me that we ought to have a more respectable place in which to hold meetings, but I hardly know what course to take to secure one. Bro. — is doing a good work canvassing for ‘Sunshine’; has taken forty orders, and is giving Bible-readings. He is doing all he can. I sold a man from Tennessee, who never heard of S. D. Adventists before, a prophetic chart, ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,’ ‘Man’s Nature and Destiny,’ and he went home a happy man.” S. N. HASKELL.