It has recently been estimated that within the shores of Africa—11,277,364 square miles, exclusive of Madagascar—there is a population of one hundred and sixty-four millions, speaking six hundred languages and dialects. To undertake to give the message of Christ’s second coming to so many millions of heathen people is a work of such magnitude as to seem an impossibility, but God, who directed in the efforts of Dr. Livingstone and other noble missionaries who have succeeded him, has been preparing facilities for the accomplishment of his purpose. Such men as Dr. A. Hetherwick, who has written grammars for two of the Bantu languages, and Dr. Scott, of the Church of Scotland Mission, compiler of the “Cyclopedia Dictionary of the Mang’anja language,” have given us the benefit of their extensive learning; by the aid of such books missionaries coming into the country now have a very great advantage over those who came before these facilities were provided. And yet the question as to how to reach so many tribes speaking almost as many different languages is one of no little importance; it should be well considered by those who desire to come to this country as missionaries, else the fact that it is necessary to learn the language of each tribe for which we expect to do effective missionary work may prove to be a source of some embarrassment and much discouragement.
School work will perhaps always be the most successful branch of work that we can undertake; in fact, it is only by simple, persevering teaching, by those who are willing to work indefinitely without seeing any tangible results, that we can hope to place the truth in its simplest form before these people. It is necessary that they be put in possession of the words and thoughts that would make it possible for them to comprehend the truth.
NYASSALAND BOYS PREPARING LAND FOR COTTON
In the locality in which our Nyassaland Mission is established, the Mang’anja or Nyanja language is in most general use. Fortunately, it is spoken not only by the Mang’anja people, but is understood and spoken by at least two other tribes.
Dr. Scott says: “The Mang’anja (people) form part of the great River and Lake branch of the Bantu race, and Chimang’anja is the language of the River or Lake. The dialects of Chikunda, Ambo, Chipeta, Anguru, are but slightly modified Mang’anja. The Mang’anja are related more closely to the Zulu, Kafir, and Congo tribes than they are to the coast tribes as represented by the Swahili, Yao, Lomwe, and others; and their River and Lake descent is well indicated by their name. The first general outlines of the movement and branching of the race are seen in the relation of the languages above mentioned. The movement seems to have been from North Central Africa along lake and river to the south, and the separation from the coast tribes must have been long anterior to the comparatively late separation of Zulu and Congo tribes, and the quite recent branching of the Mang’anja into its various dialects.”
We find many boys from the different tribes who earnestly desire to be taught the English language. While there is a difference of opinion among missionaries as to the advisability of teaching English to the natives, there may be some cases in which this desire may be taken advantage of by using such text-books as teach present truth. When we are prepared to receive them, doubtless the Lord will send us boys who should be trained for missionary work among their respective tribes. This should give opportunity for the exercise of the gift of “discerning of spirits,” as it must constantly be borne in mind that a knowledge of English puts a native in possession of greater money-earning power, and is thus a source of temptation. A native who has a fair knowledge of English can nearly always get work at wages from four to ten times more than the ordinary workman. Nearly all who ask us to teach them English claim that their object is to learn the “words of God,” but it sometimes transpires in a short time that the real object is the pecuniary advantage to be gained.
The chief of a district where we had a native teaching has sent a message asking me to come to talk with him about teaching the children in his village. I am planning to make a trip by machilla. It is about four days’ journey, but I will be able to visit another place that ought to be visited. I have not yet been able to do any traveling, as my time has been taken at the mission. I want to go around as much as possible. It is a severe test for one’s health to travel through the country; as it is impossible to buy any food, one has to carry food with him, and the water to be had is positively unfit for use without being boiled. But we have to risk these things in order to reach the natives.
At present we are conducting our mission and school work on a small scale; even if we were in a position to do more and better teaching, it is not quite clear at present just what is the best course to pursue. Our industrial work, done as it is in the most primitive way imaginable, requires much attention to prevent its becoming a large expense without producing corresponding results. All the work of cultivating and planting the land is done with a sort of hoe with a very short handle. In a civilized country, a man working hard ten hours a day would not accomplish much with this rude implement; the natives can not be hired to work long hours, so it takes a long time for a party of them to prepare and plant one hundred acres of land; but while they are at work, the one in charge should know their language, and “how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” In the future this industrial mission work may prove to be a favorable opening for those who desire to go to “foreign” lands, but have not had a preparation in other branches, yet who could, with a little assistance, pick up a language and use it as here suggested, thus supplementing the work of the teacher, and from time to time selecting from the workmen for further training in our schools those who might show receptiveness and reliability.
Cholo, British Central Africa.
Hungry for Souls
“COME to our town,” said an African chief to the missionary. “Come to our town; we are hungry.” “When I arranged the caravan for the journey,” said Mr. Hay, the missionary, “a voice asked within me, ‘What if they are not hungry, after all? Your journey will be in vain.’ But a deeper voice answered, ‘What if they are not hungry for the bread of life? There is One who is hungering to give them that bread. Go, and minister to the hunger of the Lord Jesus.’”
Chosen and Ordained to Bear Fruit
“I HAVE chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”
Mission Notes
COLPORTAGE in the province of Algarve, south Portugal, has been prohibited. Steps are being taken to secure the removal of the restrictions.
MEXICO is not across the sea, but within a few days of where we rejoice in our freedom and education; but no one can estimate the distance, when we compare our opportunities with theirs.
THE first college for women in Japan is only two years old, yet it already has more than eight hundred pupils. Their ages range from twelve to more than thirty-five years. English, Japanese, and Chinese are taught.
A TIBETAN-ENGLISH dictionary has been recently prepared. It was revised and edited under the orders of the government of Bengal, by one of the chaplains in the English service in India and a Moravian missionary of the Tibetan frontier.
WRITING of the condition of the work in the Netherlands, Brother Jacob Wibbens says that the work is onward, although they have not yet recovered from the experience of the last year. The membership is still about one third of what it was before the apostasy, but the experience, though bitter at first, has been a blessing to those who stood firm for the truth. The prophecies and the sanctuary question have become much clearer and dearer than before.
ELDER E. VAN DEUSEN, after years of labor in the West Indies, has returned to his home in Lowell, Mich. He writes: “After I left the council meeting at Trinidad last spring, I went to Antigua with Brother D. E. Wellman, and stayed with him until the next mail, when I returned to St. Vincent. I immediately set about securing a house for the company there, as a place of worship. When I had succeeded, as I supposed, the party with whom I had bargained suddenly recanted. Then I tried to secure another house, but failed. So I was compelled to buy a piece of land, and build on it. We began the work the first of April, and had the church dedicated July 12. Going to Barbados and returning to St. Vincent and preparing to leave the field, took me until August 17, when I started for Trinidad, to visit our children, and sail for the States. “I left Trinidad on September 8, and arrived home the twenty-second. I am glad to say that I found my wife in a better state of health than I expected. I have thought best to stay here this winter, and do what I can in this vicinity. I see as great need of work here as in any place where I have been, and shall try to be of some use. “With interest I have been watching the trend this great work is taking. I am in harmony with the advance steps which have been made, and ever hope to keep in touch with every change the Lord may indicate.”
BROTHER MORROW, of Bermuda, has been visiting among the Boers who still remain in the island, which was used as a prison camp during the South African war. He now writes that two have accepted the truths of this advent message. Far removed from their own homes by war, they nevertheless did not drift beyond the Lord’s love and care.
ONE of the results of the recent war in China is a new spirit of restless, dissatisfied inquiry permeating most classes of people. Missionary work is being rapidly reorganized, and in no part of the country, except Kwongsai, has it been unsafe to sell the Scriptures. The results call for deep and devout gratitude to God. Our actual circulation during 1902 was more than double the figures of the previous year, and the largest total ever reported for China. Especially remarkable are the unprecedented sales of Bibles and Testaments. Though our depot at Shanghai issued more than a million books, it failed to keep pace with the extraordinary demand for the Gospels.—Bible Society Gleanings.
IN writing of the needs of India recently, Brother L. J. Burgess pens a picture which is a mute appeal from the millions in India. He says: “There are certainly many good souls among the Hindu and Mohammedan people who will be reached with the gospel of the kingdom. I saw a man coming along the road one day, holding his hand raised over his head, as though reaching up toward heaven. When he came near, I saw that his finger nails had grown about five inches in length, and that his hand had been held in that position until he could not get it down. It seemed to me like a silent call to heaven for help. There are many souls reaching out for help, which is right at hand, but they do not see it. They need some one to point them to Jesus, the Saviour of the world.”
WHEN Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of the Cannibal Islands the ship was becalmed, and it was slowly drifting shoreward, unable to go about, and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast. The captain came to Mr. Taylor, and besought him to pray for the help of God. “I will,” said Taylor, “provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.” The captain declined to make himself a laughing-stock by unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor said, “I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” And it was done. While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. “Who is there?” The captain’s voice responded, “Are you still praying for wind?” “Yes.” “Well,” said the captain, “you’d better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can well manage.” And, sure enough, when but a hundred yards from the shore, a strong wind had struck the sails of the boat, so that the cannibals were cheated out of their human prey.—Dr. L. A. Banks.
Assam
THE nineteenth century was thirty-five years old when the intrepid Kincaid was treading the frontier jungle of Burma, in the hope of carrying the gospel message to the wild tribes of Assam. He was thwarted in this purpose, but a year later a little company of missionaries were towed up the great Bramaputra River, to Sadiya, to reach the Khamtis and Singphos. Wars, fevers, deaths, dispersions, and discouragements of every sort, continued even until now, have not prevented stout hearts from bearing the blessed message of the Prince of Peace to the millions of Assam who live in her hills and plains.
If one hungers for the romance of missions, or wishes inspiration to earnest effort, let him fix his gaze upon this frontier province of the great Indian empire. Behold four thousand redeemed ones among the blood-thirsty Garos, tamed by the Great Spirit from the fiercest savagedom, now making their mountains ring in praise to One who was sacrificed for all! Follow their own missionary to other and distant tribes, and from the few trophies he has already won, see the earnest of thousands to be gathered from among the numerous tribes. Look, and you will see rising from the family altars of four thousand Nagas the incense of prayer.
Among the hundreds of thousands of the immigrant population in the plains among the Assamese proper, and also among the representatives of the hill tribes living in the plains, many lower lights are burning.
The Assamese now have the entire Bible in their native tongue. The Garos are well supplied with literature, while beginnings have been made in other tongues sufficient to sow the seed for plenteous harvests. Prayer, pains, more missionaries and native workers, added to what we already have—all the sure rewards of faith-filled intercessions—furnish an outlook of surpassing promise.
—Baptist Missionary Magazine.
The Salvation of Sinners
By Ellen G. White
THE salvation of sinners was Christ’s work,—the supreme aim and object of his life. I am instructed to say to the members of our churches, You are children of God, denominated by him the subjects of a heavenly kingdom. You are to reveal to the world characters incomparably above the characters of those who have not the love of God in their hearts, and who do not keep his fear before them. You are called upon to follow a perfect pattern. You are to show forth in your lives the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You are to show forth the life-giving power of him who gave his life for the life of the world. You are to be faithful teachers to those who know not the grace of Christ. You are not to have a meager, poverty-stricken spirituality; you are to be strong in the strength of God.—Mrs. E. G. White.
The Law of Christian Life
“GIVE,” is the law of Christian life.
Texas
By Elisha Taylor
CLEBURNE AND CORSICANA.—For about one year I have labored, as I had opportunity, as a self-supporting missionary. At Cleburne I have endeavored to strengthen, encourage, and build up two small companies.
At Corsicana the Sabbath-school was reorganized, with a membership of eighteen. Others joined the school afterward.
The Mexican boll weevil has come to this place, and is making sad havoc of the cotton crop. Not a bloom is to be seen, notwithstanding repeated showers and warm weather.
We expect to take one hundred copies of the special number of the Signs on capital and labor. Pray for us that the Word of the Lord may have “free course, and be glorified.”
ELISHA TAYLOR.
Jamaica
By J. B. Beckner
KINGSTON.— Our people are rejoiced to see that our American brethren are extending the brotherly hand to help us in this our time of need.
I was at Moon Park, where I found the brethren at work on the church building. They had the frame up again, and almost all of the roof on.
At Port Antonio the elder said he could not get the brethren to work. I inquired the reason. He said it was because they had nothing to eat while working on the church. I then arranged with him to provide food while at work, which would cost about threepence a day. Many in Jamaica are now begging for work and food.
The interest in the message is on the increase, notwithstanding the terrible financial condition. We have about thirty now in preparation for baptism during the week of prayer. A prominent family, of considerable landed property, has accepted the entire message since the storm. Many now realize that there will be a much greater storm just a little ahead of us. We are glad to see some beginning to make preparations to stand in that time. We desire the prayers of our people, as well as their financial help, in this time of need. J. B. BECKNER.
India
By W. O. James
We left Poona after taking one hundred and seventy-five yearly subscriptions for The Oriental Watchman and Good Health. We were there one month and three days. We found several interested in the truth. Mrs. James held readings with these families. The time being so short, she was not able to give them a full insight into the truth. But as they were hungry for the message, the Lord caused two families to want “Early Writings.” One lady to whom Mrs. James had loaned the book, was unwilling to part with her new-found treasure, so we left it with her, knowing the Lord had a place for it there.
From Poona we went to a small place called Khandwa. Several there had taken The Oriental Watchman, among whom was a minister. He was much opposed to the truth, but several of his congregation were much interested, and we received a special invitation from two families to explain these things more clearly. The Lord worked. Praise his name! We left them fully convinced that in order to live up to the light shining on their pathway, they must be found among those who “keep the commandments of God.” It is wonderful to see the Spirit of God bring these people face to face with these things. Some receive them with joy, while others turn every way for an escape.
We have not learned much of the native tongue, as we so often get into places where new dialects are spoken. We have been canvassing all the towns between Bombay and Jhansi. We are now working from Bilaspur toward Calcutta. How we shall enjoy meeting with those who find their whole lives wrapped up in the truth for this time! It means everything to us to be found with our lamps trimmed and burning.
Last Thursday night we came into a place containing twelve or fourteen European families. A minister with whom we had become acquainted elsewhere wrote to a gentleman at this little station, who met us at the train. Friday morning I told this man that we were Adventists, and did not travel on the Sabbath. As no trains went from the place until 8 P. M., we did not feel free to go then, although we had expected to stop there but one night. He asked me why I kept Saturday as the Sabbath. I told him in just a few words, and nothing more was said until Sabbath evening. Then he said, “Some time ago the truth of the Sabbath came to me as I studied my Bible, and I believe it is the right day.” Our coming seemed to cause him to see that he was letting darkness come in by neglecting to heed the voice which spoke to him long ago. He is a man who will not read tracts on such controverted subjects, but takes the Bible and finds out for himself. He feels safer in leaving out all man-made opinions. If he follows his convictions, he will find himself in the truth. We were not allowed to pay anything for our two days’ stay; for, said he, “We lay aside one tenth of our income for the Lord’s service, and spend it in keeping all the missionaries who come this way.” He is finding a place for it, too, as there is not even a waiting room at the station.
Leaving this place on the 8 P. M. train, we rode all night, making our beds on the narrow board seats. Sunday morning found us in Bilaspur, a railway town containing about fifty families. The Lord had a place provided for us, and we met many interested in the truth. This field will soon make a strong call for ministers to reap that which is now being sown.
India is a large field, and needs are seen on every hand. It is a place which becomes more interesting day by day. And every day brings fresh evidence to us that a great work can soon be accomplished, if God’s people are only prepared to let him work. We meet many who take great interest in studying The Signs of the Times. May the Lord help us to do a faithful work. I feel my great need each morning of seeking and receiving a new supply of grace, from which I may draw all day long.
W. O. JAMES.
China
By E. H. Wilbur
MACAO.—We watch eagerly for each number of the REVIEW AND HERALD, and read with deep interest of the progress of the message in all lands. Our hearts have been especially touched with the wonderful manner in which the Lord has opened the way for the removal of the headquarters of the conference and publishing work to Washington, D. C. If some of our brethren and sisters in Battle Creek could spend a few hours with us in China, I am sure their hearts would be touched as they came face to face with the vast multitude who are perishing for a knowledge of the truth that these dear brethren and sisters are abundantly able to give.
We are rejoiced to have the Drs. Selmon and Miller and their wives in China. But I must add that, as these workers will be located in Central China, which is one thousand miles by water route from us, they will be about as available to the South China work as a New Orleans physician would be to a resident of Chicago. So we say, If the Lord is impressing other physicians to come to China, there is still room.
Mrs. Wilbur and I stood the heat of the summer very well. But the first week in September it rained continuously, and there was much sickness. I was down with fever one week; but in another week, by the goodness of the Lord, I was again enabled to proceed with my Chinese lessons and canvassing.
The latter part of September Miss Thompson and my wife and I came to Macao for a change of climate and rest. This city is forty-five miles southwest of Hongkong, and so situated that we get the ocean breezes in summer. During the two hottest months this is a resort for missionaries from South China, frequently18from fifty to seventy-five are here at one time. We did not expect to be able to come this year; but a Chinese friend in Hongkong gave us the free use of his large, well-furnished summer home here.
This is a Portuguese colony, and a stronghold of Catholicism. Yesterday three large excursion steamers brought people from Hongkong to witness a church parade. With great pomp the bishop and priests, with many students and a company of armed Portuguese soldiers, passed through the throng of admiring spectators. When the chief bishop passed, every bystander was compelled to remove his hat. Any one refusing to do so was rudely compelled by an armed policeman to show this reverence to the representative of the papacy. As the crowds stood looking with wonder and admiration, the words of Rev. 13:4 came to my mind: “And they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?” The Roman Catholic Church has a stronghold in China, and often exercises its authority in the courts.
To-night the Chinese are celebrating their moon festival. Every family has its varicolored paper lanterns, made especially for the occasion. Amid burning tapers and rising incense, roast meats are offered to the gods. All members of the family must make obeisance before burning papers, even the little children being taught to do so. Another feature of this feast, as of many other Chinese holidays, is the burning of many fire-crackers.
One day last week, a few doors from us the clanging of bells was kept up all day and night, on account of the death of a member of the family several weeks ago. About two o'clock in the morning, a priest came to the house of another member of that family, who lives across the street from us, and rang a little bell and chanted prayers to Josh for three hours. Often during this time loud wailings were heard from members of the family.
How sad our Heavenly Father must feel as he looks upon all this idolatry, while his own chosen people neglect to carry the warning message. There are souls in China who are hungering for the gospel. When Englishmen have rudely refused religious reading, I have turned to their Chinese helpers, and found them anxious to buy the Chinese New Testament.
Since January 1, I have sold, in all, sixty-six bound books, ninety copies of the New Testament, and four hundred and sixty-eight periodicals, and taken nine yearly subscriptions to the Good Health and one to the Pacific Health Journal. To the Lord be all the praise.
E. H. WILBUR.
Arizona
By J. Ernest Bond
FLAGSTAFF.—I began a series of meetings in our church in Flagstaff, October 23, with a good attendance. The meetings continued until November 29. During this time we had services almost every night, with two meetings each Sabbath and Sunday. The presence of God’s Spirit was manifest from the start, and both attendance and interest remained good until the close.
Sabbath, November 7, two precious souls were buried with our Lord in baptism, and three weeks later, November 28, five others were baptized and added to the church, and one was rebaptized.
The church here is in good condition. They have canvassed the entire city for the Capital and Labor number of the Signs, and are now covering the ground again with small leaflets which our conference has prepared for this purpose.
Each leaflet contains a short Bible reading. This gives the church-members an opportunity to visit the interested ones each week, as they go to take up the Bible studies and leave a leaflet presenting another subject. We expect to work the town until every soul is warned. Pray for our work here.
J. ERNEST BOND.
Report From Kansas
By C. MC REYNOLDS
SINCE our large camp-meeting at Newton, closing September 6, fifteen have been brought into the truth, and united with the church, while five others are observing the Sabbath, and it is hoped will soon unite with us.
A church of fifteen has been organized at Ft. Scott, and seven or eight others have united since the organization. Seven have united with the company at Great Bend, and are rejoicing in new-found truth. Five have been recently added to the church at Miltonvale by baptism. Three or four were added to the church at Columbus by baptism. Two united with the Ozawkie church, and others are seeking the Lord and his truth. Four have accepted the truth at Herington, and the German church there has been much revived. Three were recently added to the Wichita church by baptism. Some are just accepting the message in Salina, and the interest is good at several points in the State where our workers are now conducting meetings.
In a number of our churches special efforts have been made recently in behalf of the ten-cent-a-week plan of offerings for mission work. This is proving a real blessing to the churches; and we are glad to know that the number of churches adopting this plan is increasing. We trust the good work will continue till every church is found placing in the mission fund each week a sum equal to ten cents for every resident member, and all isolated ones sending in their contributions.
The canvassing work is moving encouragingly. Some faithful canvassing evangelists are meeting with the best of success. The outlook for a large attendance at our coming institute for canvassers is very encouraging; let every minister and Bible worker see how many he can induce to attend.
The missionary campaign is awakening many to life; more than twenty thousand copies of the special Signs have been sold already, and orders are coming in rapidly. Some are combining the sale of books and the distribution of tracts with the Signs, and are working to secure subscriptions for the paper, while selling the special issue. Let all take hold earnestly in this effort.
C. MC REYNOLDS, President.
West Virginia Conference
By H. W. Cottrell
THE West Virginia Conference held its annual session at Parkersburg, Nov. 24-30, 1903. There was a good representation from the various churches. Elders G. B. Thompson, J. E. Jayne, S. G. Huntington, and F. E. Painter, and the writer were in attendance, and assisted in the services. The Spirit of the Lord was present in a marked manner in the transaction of conference business and in the preaching of the word. The brethren and sisters greatly appreciate the efforts of the General and Union Conferences to assist them in their work.
Elder S. G. Huntington, of Ontario, who had recently been assigned to this field by the union conference, was elected president of the conference.
Three counties in the State of Maryland, belonging to the West Virginia Conference, and three others closely allied, in the State of West Virginia, were transferred to the Chesapeake Conference. Elder J. A. Traugh, one of the West Virginia Conference ministers, will labor in the Chesapeake Conference.
The tract and book department of conference work was revived. Brother Painter, the union conference agent, in connection with the local agent, did all he could to encourage others to join the ranks of those already engaged in that department of the work. We are informed by the canvassing agent that West Virginia is a good field in which to sell our books and other literature. Reference was made to the fact that in sections where gas, oil, and coal are found, laborers receive their weekly earnings in money, and are willing to purchase books.
I wish that some of the wealthier conferences would consider favorably the idea of sending a strong, well-balanced, thorough-going minister to this conference, and support him as one of their regular workers. I will be pleased to hear from any conference that is willing to assist in this way.
We left all of good courage in the Lord, and of strong faith in the final triumph of the message of truth.
H. W. COTTRELL.
Christlicher Hausfreund
By H. Shultz
THE special number of Christlicher Hausfreund, containing twenty-four pages of spicy articles on present truth, is now ready to be sent on its mission of mercy. This paper in the German tongue, is the same as The Signs of the Times in the English tongue. It is our missionary paper; and this special number is gotten out to meet the demands of the hour, and ought to be in every German-speaking family in the United States and Canada. One hundred thousand of this number ought to be put into the homes of Germans within the next month, and it can be done if every Seventh-day Adventist will take hold of the work, and see that every German family in his neighborhood has a copy. The special number of the Signs is being19sold and given away by the thousand, and our German brethren, being anxious that their English-speaking neighbors should know the truth for these times, have scattered among them the special number of the Signs, as well as other reading-matter. And now will not our American brethren take hold and help us in getting this special number of the Hausfreund to their German neighbors? A few dollars can not be spent more profitably. Doubtless many a precious soul will hear the message in this way, who would not hear it in any other way. Of our blessed Lord it is said, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” It is his joy, as well as the joy of the angels, to see many souls saved in the kingdom of God. Of somebody it is going to be said, “Well done, good and faithful servant, . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt. 25:21-23. But unless we do something to win souls for heaven, we never can enter into the joy of the Lord; for the salvation of souls is the joy of the Lord. Let us not sit idly by, for that is a dangerous thing to do. See Judges 5:23.
The price of the special Hausfreund is as follows: from one to ten copies, five cents a copy, from ten to one hundred copies, three cents each. Order through the tract societies, or send directly to Christlicher Hausfreund, College View, Neb. Let every church and isolated member see that every German family in the neighborhood has a copy of the special number of the Hausfreund.
H. SHULTZ.
The International Publishing Association
By E. T. Russell
THE International Publishing Association has purchased a two-story frame building in College View, Neb., 24 x 50 feet, with a good cellar under it, at a cost of nine hundred dollars. There are six rooms on the second floor, which will provide ample room for editorial work. In the front of the first story will be located the manager’s office, and immediately back of that, the stock room. Attached to the rear of the main building is a one-story building, in which will be placed the two printing presses.
It is designed to build a one-story addition on the west side of the main building, about fourteen feet in width, which will be used as a composing room. There will also be provided a small building in which to place the engine, and a well to furnish water for the plant. It is to be hoped that the total cost of the property, including improvements, will not exceed eighteen hundred dollars.
The reason why the board of trustees deemed it advisable to purchase rather than to build was in order to save expense, as at the present cost of material, in order to build a plant with sufficient space, it would require quite a sum of money, which, instead of investing in the plant, they desire to use in the circulation of literature.
It has been recommended by some, and the board of trustees deems it advisable, to purchase the stock of foreign publications at present owned by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, and thus make the International Publishing Association the publishing and distributing center of our foreign literature in America. They hope soon to be able to fill all orders for books, tracts, and pamphlets in the German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian languages. I hope all who read this article will bear this in mind. E. T. RUSSELL.
The Special Number of the Signs
By Editor
WE have been surprised at the success attending the efforts of those working in stores and on the street, especially Saturday nights. Men and women with absolutely no experience have been very successful in work of this kind.
For the benefit of those desiring to continue selling the paper either on the street, in offices, or from house to house, we will furnish free a ribbon badge with the words, “Signs of the Times,” printed upon it. Of course these would not be given simply to those who sell a few copies of the special number, but are intended for those who make a business of selling every issue of this paper.
Mailing the Paper to Friends
We wish our readers might see the long lists of names which are being constantly received at this office with the request that copies of the special number be mailed to them. We have been greatly interested in this work because it opens an opportunity for any one to circulate the paper. If you do not have the names of a large number of friends to whom you would like to mail a copy, you can easily secure a list of names of people20who would probably not receive an opportunity to purchase. These may be sent to us, and we will promptly address, wrap, and mail.
Follow up Your Work
“I will write to our workers asking them to make the securing of subscribers a prominent part of their work. If this is done, it will be much more fruitful than simply placing one copy in the hands of the people.” So writes one of our conference officers who is in charge of the work for this special number. We think this is an important part of the campaign, and trust it will be remembered by all.
No Time Limit
We hope our friends everywhere will bear in mind the fact that this number of the Signs does not grow old. Labor troubles are increasing day after day, and with them the demand for the truth on the subject. There is no reason why this paper should not sell for the next two months.
Profits of this Number
It may be of interest to our readers to know that one half of the profits realized from the sale of this number go to the Mission Board for carrying the truth to foreign lands.
Rates
The rates on this special number are as follows:—
Single copies, 5 cents; five to twenty copies, 4 cents; twenty-five copies or more, 3 cents; for mailing papers to lists of names of from five to twenty-five, 5 cents each; from twenty-five to one hundred, 4 cents; more than one hundred, 3½ cents. PACIFIC PRESS.
