A RECENT letter from Elder Guy Dail, Secretary of the European Division of the General Conference, brings this truly encouraging word regarding the progress of the message in that war-stricken region of the earth:—
“During 1915, so far as we have been able to receive returns, our Division baptisms amounted to 4,351, 616 fewer than in 1914. This brings our membership up to 37,422, against 35,146 the preceding year. Our tithe amounted to $374,928 and offerings to $91,505, or $4,993 less than in 1914. Our book and paper sales amounted to $416,096, as against $424,869 in 1914. In 1914 we had 695 workers in active service; at the present time we have only 582. Our canvassers in 1914 numbered 831; at the present time, 675. The figures for both years are not entirely complete. They are as complete as we can make them just now.”
“There is every reason, in view of war conditions, to thank God. Difficulties are pressing in on many sides. Persecution threatens us in many places, and is actually in progress in some countries; but the message will go till the final harvest.”
Let us continue to remember our brethren who are laboring to advance the message in the great war zones of Europe.
The Present Truth, September List
By Editor
It is necessary to announce a slight revision of our plan for handling the September list of Present Truth, in order to meet the needs of the great work which the Lord is evidently developing in this matter among his people.
A few days ago a little pebble was dropped into the great ocean of God's providences, and the encircling waves of influence and action have extended until they already reach far beyond our knowledge and plans.
As the Present Truth numbers have developed so as to cover more of the leading points of our faith, the circulation has increased, until during the past few months we have been sending out an average of a quarter of a million copies a month.
A thought occurred to Brother D. W. Reavis, who has charge of the circulation of Present Truth, that we might, with our office facilities, help our brethren and sisters who wish to place this complete series of twenty-four numbers in the hands of their neighbors, relatives, and friends. Therefore he announced an offer to send the Present Truth Series at the rate of one copy a week, beginning with No. 1, to all whose names and addresses were sent in before September 1, accompanied by 24 cents for each subscription. The list was to close September 1.
We have to confess that the unexpected happened, and we find ourselves almost buried beneath a shower of orders.
Subscriptions have come in during the past week at the rate of two thousand a day. As each subscription means twenty-four numbers, the daily orders call for nearly fifty thousand copies. The facilities of our periodical department are taxed as they have not been since the issuing of the War and Eastern Question Extras in 1914.
Stencils must be cut for all these subscriptions before the first number can be sent out. Our stencil machines are being run double shift. We are talking a third shift. We are endeavoring to get two more stencil machines immediately for this work.
But with all this effort, it is mechanically impossible for us to handle these subscriptions and begin sending out the Present Truth the first of September. Besides, it does not seem in harmony with what God is doing in this matter to stop this list abruptly when it is coming in at such a rate. We have decided, therefore, to hold this list over during the month of September, and begin mailing the papers the first week in October.
This readjustment in the plan will enable our brethren and sisters to send in the names they wish added to this list, and it will give us time to provide additional facilities to handle the work.
Such evidences that God is working mightily with his people are a great encouragement to us all. Surely the kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed,—the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest thing in the world.
We rejoice in God over this development, and trust that the slight change in the plan will be an inconvenience to no one. We hope and pray that many who sit in darkness will see the light of God's truth as the result of this movement in behalf of neighbors and friends.
