All the business of the Society is done through three grades of secretaries: (1) The librarians, who are secretaries of the church societies; (2) The district secretaries; and (3) the State secretary.
The method of doing business according to this system may well be illustrated by the following diagram:—
M represents the members, L the librarians, D S the district secretaries, S S the State secretary, and O the offices of publication.
The members in the church society, (and the business agent also, when there be one,) bring their business to the librarian. The librarian forwards it to the district secretary. The district secretary forwards to the State secretary all business received from the librarians in his district; and the State secretary forwards the same to the offices of publication.
MEMBERS.
However capable the officers of a T. and M. society may be, its real efficiency depends upon the activity of its members. After joining the society each member should obtain from the librarian a pass book in which to keep a record of all work performed, and any items of interest which may arise while engaged in missionary labor. From the record kept in this pass book the quarterly report is to be made out. He shall also draw from the librarian such reading matter as he may wish to use in his missionary work. A full record of such reading matter drawn should be entered in the pass book, with the number of pages of each kind and the value of the same.
One week before the church quarterly meeting each member will receive from the librarian a blank report, which should be filled out from the record kept in the pass book, to be read at the quarterly meeting. See article on Reporting.
The real work of the members consists in obtaining subscriptions to our periodicals; distributing copies of the same; lending and giving tracts to those who are willing to read; visiting those who are interested in the truth, praying with and for them, and endeavoring to interest those who are still indifferent; calling upon the poor and needy, ascertaining their circumstances, and reporting the same to the proper officers in the church; relieving the widows and orphans; and corresponding with those who may be benefited by such correspondence. A record of all such work should be entered in the pass book.
All moneys received by members, whether on subscriptions for periodicals, from book sales, or from any other source, should be promptly handed to the librarian with a full statement of the business.
BUSINESS AGENT.
The business agent should see that all pledges to the society are promptly paid, and collect dues from old subscribers to our periodicals. He is to collect money on all enterprises that may be entered upon by the society. When money is received on periodicals great care should be taken to give the name of the individual in a clear, legible hand, so that there may be no mistake.
The business agent will need but one book, which may be called a Record Book. In this he will enter the different transactions in full as they occur, and from it a statement should be made out once a week, or oftener if much business is done, to be handed, with the money, to the librarian. Business on periodicals should be reported immediately.
LIBRARIAN.
The work of the librarian is three-fold. First, as librarian, second, as secretary, and third, as treasurer.
1. In his duty as librarian he shall keep in some convenient place, the church is frequently the best, a supply of papers, tracts, &c., to be used by the members in their missionary operations. Care should be taken that a full assortment be kept on hand. He shall supply each member with a pass book in which to enter a record of all work accomplished, and give instruction in regard to its use. He shall keep a supply of blank reports, and hand them out to the members one week before the church quarterly meeting, and see that they are promptly and properly filled out. See article on Reporting.
2. As secretary of the church missionary society he shall keep a list of members, a record of all meetings, and an account of all business transactions. In order to do this, two books will be necessary: a Record book and a Journal. In the first part of the record book should be entered a list of all missionary members in the church, and a record of all meetings of the church missionary society. In the last half of this book should be kept a copy of all business letters. See article, Business Letters.
In the Journal an account should be opened with the district, and with each member in the church. The district should be credited with all books, &c., received by the librarian, and for all periodicals ordered; and charged with all money sent to the district secretary on account. Each member should be charged with all reading matter drawn, and credited with all money paid in by him. The object of these individual accounts is to show what each member is doing, and to guard against the indiscriminate drawing of large quantities of reading matter which may not be judiciously used.
3. As treasurer he shall receive all moneys from the members, and from the business agent, and shall forward the same to the district secretary once a month with a statement specifying for what received. All business on periodicals should be reported the same day that it is received. Accompanying this monthly statement should be a list of those who have joined the society during the month, with their post-office address; and also a list of members who have removed from the district, who have withdrawn from the society, or whose names have been dropped on account of inactivity and failure to report. This is necessary that the record of the district secretary may be complete and correct. As treasurer he shall keep a Cash book, on the debit side of which shall be entered all moneys received, and on the credit side all moneys paid out. See article, How to do Business.
DISTRICT SECRETARY.
The District Secretary shall keep a list of the members in the district, a record of all district meetings, and an account of all business transactions. He shall supply the librarians in his district with blank reports, and see that the reporting in the district is promptly and properly done. See instructions on Reporting. He shall also keep on hand a full supply of tracts, pamphlets, &c., for the supply of the districts, and shall see that the supply does not become exhausted. Immediately after the district quarterly meeting an inventory should be taken of the books on hand, that a full supply for the next quarter may be drawn from the State secretary at the State quarterly meeting.
As secretary two books will be needed, a Record book and a Journal. In the first part of the Record book will be entered, first, a list of members in the district, keeping each church by itself, and giving the post-office address of each member; and second, a record of all district meetings. In the last half should be kept a copy of all business letters. See article, Business Letters.
In the Journal should be opened an account with each church in the district, and with the State. Each church should be charged with all missionary documents sent to it, and for all periodicals ordered by it; and credited with all money received from it. If any church is overdrawing its account, notice of the fact should be sent to the director of the district, and to the librarian of the church overdrawing, that more funds may be raised. Each church should pay its own way as far as possible.
The State should be credited with all books, &c., received by the district, and for all periodicals ordered; and charged with all moneys sent to the State secretary.
As treasurer he shall receive all moneys from the librarians in his district, and forward the same to the State secretary once a month, with a statement of account. Accompanying this statement should be a list of members who have joined during the month, specifying the church which they have joined and giving their post-office address. This is necessary that the State secretary may keep a full record of the membership in the State.
As treasurer he shall keep a Cash book, on the debit side of which shall be entered all moneys received, and on the credit side all moneys paid out. See article, How to do Business.
STATE SECRETARY.
The State secretary shall keep a list of members in the State, a record of all State and directors' meetings, and an account of all business transactions. He shall keep on hand a full supply of tracts, pamphlets, books, specimen copies of our periodicals, and such other missionary documents as are needed throughout the State. The wants of the society should be anticipated by the State secretary, and the greatest care taken that nothing shall hinder its activity. He should keep a supply of blank reports for the State, and see that the districts are supplied with them, and that reporting is properly attended to. See article on Reporting.
As Secretary three books will be required; a Record book, a Letter book, and a Journal. In the first part of the Record book will be kept a list of members, classified according to the church and district to which they belong, giving also the post-office address of each. In the latter part of the Record book should be kept a record of all State and directors' meetings. In the Letter book will be kept a copy of all business letters. See article Business Letters. In the Journal, an account should be opened with each district in the State, and an account with each of the offices of publication. In this book, each district should be charged with all books sent to it, and for periodicals ordered by it, and credited with all moneys received from it on account. If any district is overdrawing its account, the State secretary shall notify the president and the director of the district, that more funds may be raised in the district, as each district should bear its own burden. On the accounts with the offices of publication, they should be credited with everything received from them, and charged with all money sent on account.
As treasurer, he shall receive all moneys from the district secretaries, and forward the same to the offices of publication once a month with a statement of account. As treasurer, he shall keep a cash book, on the debit side of which3shall be entered all moneys received, and on the credit side all moneys paid out. See article, How to do Business.
PRESIDENT.
The President shall preside at all T. and M. meetings in the State whenever he may be present. He shall see that the whole State is supplied with everything necessary for the successful prosecution of the work. He shall thoroughly acquaint himself with the duties of all officers in the State, and be prepared to give them full instructions in regard to their duties and how to perform them. He shall make himself familiar with the plans for keeping accounts for all the officers in the State, as brought out in article, How to do Business, and be prepared to audit any officer's account in the State, and give instructions to all who do not fully understand how to keep their books. In fine, his eye shall be open to the wants of the whole State, and his efforts shall be exerted to produce harmony and efficient work.
VICE-PRESIDENT.
Too often the Vice-president has acted as though no responsibility rested upon him. By reading Art. II. of the Constitution, it will be seen that he is one of the Board of Directors, although he may have no district specially allotted to him. In Art. V., Sec. 2, it will be seen that he is expected to preside over all meetings of the society which he may attend in the absence of the president.
He is also to work in the interests of the society as the president may request. It will therefore be necessary that he become fully acquainted with the workings of the society, and the method of book-keeping adopted.
DIRECTORS.
The first work of the director after his election will be to make himself conversant with the plan of doing business adopted by the society.
The same work will be required of the director in the district as is required of the president in the State. Please read instructions to president. After acquainting himself with the duties of each officer in the district, he shall appoint a secretary for the district, and a librarian and a business agent for each church. In the absence of the president and vice-president, the director shall preside at all district meetings and at all church missionary meetings at which he may be present.
REPORTING,
The object of the reporting system is to obtain a summary each quarter of all the missionary work accomplished in the State.
If this is properly done, it will show whether the State is accomplishing the work it should, and what branches of the work, if any, are being neglected. It will also show which districts are alive and active, and which districts need arousing to greater activity. The same will be manifest to each director in regard to the churches in his district. The reporting system will prove an incentive to activity to every member and officer in the State, which cannot well be neglected. One week before the church quarterly meeting, the librarian should hand to each member a blank report, which should be filled out by the member from the record kept in his pass book. The manner of filling out this report is fully described on the back of the report. These reports should be read by the members at the church quarterly meetings and passed to the librarian.
The librarian makes out upon a similar blank a summary of the reports of members, which he reads at the district quarterly meeting and passes to the district secretary. The district secretary makes up a summary from all the reports received from the librarians, which he shall read at the State quarterly meeting and pass to the State secretary. From these district reports, the State secretary makes out a summary for the State. The plan of holding the church quarterly meeting the first Sunday in the quarter, the district quarterly meeting the second Sunday, and the State quarterly meeting the third, makes this plan of reporting easy to carry out.
Any member who fails to report for two quarters in succession should be dropped from the list of working members. They may be reinstated again upon resuming work. This is necessary to prevent the list becoming cumbered with names of inactive members.
BUSINESS LETTERS.
Perhaps nothing gives rise to so much difficulty in the missionary work, as the careless manner in which business letters are frequently written. A few rules if adopted and always followed will soon establish a correct habit in letter writing, which is no mean accomplishment. Below is a sample showing the principal features which should be embodied in a business letter:
(1.) Oakland, Cal., Jan. 10th, 1877.
(2.) Review and Herald,
Battle Creek, Mich. :—
(3.) Please send by freight, addressed SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.,
200 copies Life of Urgos,
250 copies History of the Sabbath.
Charge the same to the account of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Yours truly,
(4.) James White.
In our explanation the following figures will be noticed:—
(1.) The date line. This should specify the post-office address of the writer, and the date of writing. Nothing is so aggravating as to receive a letter in which the address of the writer is not given, unless it be the failure to sign the name. If either of these particulars is omitted the letter is valueless.
(2.) The party addressed. This should specify both the name and post-office address of the party to whom the letter is written. If this is done it is almost sure to reach the person intended, even if, through carelessness, it should fall into other hands.
(3.) The body of the letter. This should be plain, right to the point, and stated in as few words as possible. When business is sent it should not be mixed up with other communications. Where a person has a large number of business letters to read and attend to each day, it is very tiresome to be obliged to wade through two or three pages on other topics to find the one item of business contained. If anything is to be said on any other topic, or to the editors, let it be on another piece of paper. Keep the business by itself.
(4.) The signature. Of whatever other carelessness you may be guilty, do not forget to sign your name clear, and in full. Make every letter so plain that it could be read if standing alone.
Finally, be careful. Remember that what may be so plain to you may not be so plain to the person to whom you are writing. Don't leave out half you wish to say, and leave the reader to guess the rest.
All missionary letters should be copied in the Record or Letter book, and numbered at the head. The same number should be placed over the letter, and over the copy in the letter book, so that in case of future reference the letter can be referred to by number.
It has also been suggested that each item of business in the letter should be numbered, so that any item may be referred to by number. This is a good plan, especially when many items are introduced into one letter.
A FULL CANVASS.
When a thorough canvass of any place is desired, it is a good plan to divide the territory into districts, and divide the workers into as many companies as there are districts, and appoint a leader from their number for each district. The leader apportions to each individual the streets, or portions of the territory he is to canvass, receives the business done by the members in his district, and passes the same to the librarian. By following this system the same ground will not be gone over by two or more individuals.
PERIODICALS AND BOOKS FREE.
One part of the tract and missionary work is to furnish librarians and reading rooms with such books and periodicals as the judgment of proper individuals would approve. But this work should be done with deliberation and care. If a church is not in debt to the district it may furnish books to libraries by obtaining the consent of the president, and the director of the district. If in debt the matter should be referred to the State quarterly meeting. Periodicals may be furnished to libraries, reading rooms, or to the worthy poor, by the vote of any church missionary meeting, provided the church is not in debt to the district. If in debt to the district the matter should be referred to the director.
QUARTERLY MEETINGS.
According to the plan suggested by the General Conference Committee, the missionary year should commence with January, and the quarters commence with the months of January, April, July, and October. The church quarterly meeting should be held the first Sunday in the quarter, the district quarterly meeting the second Sunday, and the State quarterly meeting the third. By following this plan, reports can be ready in time for the State secretary's summary. At the church quarterly meetings, every member should, if possible, be present. At the district quarterly meetings, the librarian and business agent from each church, and as many of the members as possible, should be present. It is important that all the church officers should be present at these meetings, for there plans are matured which can be taken home and put into active operation. At this time the librarians should obtain a supply of books and papers for the next quarter. At the State quarterly meetings the director and secretary of each district, and as many of the church officers and members as possible, should be present. Every district officer should be present at the State quarterly meetings, as the workings of the society in the whole State are here discussed, and the spirit of the work should be fully entered into and carried to their respective districts. At this time the district secretaries should obtain a supply of books and papers for the coming quarter.
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION.
By Editor
At the late camp-meeting in Michigan, a committee was appointed to revise the Constitution of the various Tract Societies. When the Constitution was first gotten up, it was an experiment. It had not been tried. No constitution of any other society was followed. The necessity of the case called for something to be done. After seven years’ experience, it is no marvel that some changes can be made for the better. The Constitution is now presented with slight alterations and explanations, and proposed to the different T. and M. Societies for their consideration, and if they find it unobjectionable, their adoption. In this no one claims perfection. We shall wait a short time before it is put in book form. If any have suggestions to make or questions to ask in reference to the system, the committee will be happy to receive them and give them proper consideration. The basis of this is a plan drawn up by J. E. White, a practical book-keeper at the SIGNS Office, at the suggestion of the General Conference Committee.
“THE BOOK.”
A DIRECT argument is found in what follows, in favor of the utility of the Bible, and its heavenly origin, making it “the Book” for the ages of human trial, the revealer and decider of human destiny. A gentleman in New York was personally acquainted with Thomas Paine, the author of the “Age of Reason,” in which with ribald jest he scoffs at the Bible, the best of books, of which Robert Pollock, the Scotch bard, thus sweetly sings:—
“The book—this mighty book—on every line
Marked with the seal of high divinity;
On every leaf bedewed with drops of love
Divine, and with eternal heraldry
And signature of God Almighty sprinkled
From first to last.”
The gentleman, being often in Paine’s company during the last years of his life, gave the following account of a conversation he had with him respecting the Bible:—
“One evening I found Paine haranguing his disciples on the great mischief done to mankind by the production of the Bible and Christianity. When he paused, I said: ‘Mr. Paine, you have been in Scotland. You know there is not a more rigid set of people in the world than they are in their attachment to the Bible. Is it not one of the school books? Their churches are full of Bibles. When a young man leaves his father’s house, his mother, in packing his chest, always puts a Bible on top of his clothes.’ He replied that it was true. I continued: ‘You have been in Spain and Portugal, where they have no Bibles; and there you can hire a man for a dollar to murder his neighbor, who never gave him any offense.’ He assented. ‘You have been in districts in Europe where not one man in fifty can read, and you have been in Ireland where the majority never saw a Bible. Now you know that it is a historical fact that in one county in England or Ireland there are more capital convictions in six months than there are in the whole population of Scotland in twelve months. Besides this there is not one Scotchman in the almshouse, state’s prison, Bridewell, or penitentiary of New York. Now then if the Bible was so bad a book as you represent it to be, those who use it would be the worst members of society; but the contrary is the fact. Our prisons, almshouses, and penitentiaries are filled with men and women whose ignorance or unbelief prevents their reading the Bible.’”
“It was now near ten o’clock at night. Paine answered not a word, but taking his candle from the table walked up stairs, leaving his friends and myself staring at one another.”
This was indeed the easiest way for him to dispose of the weighty argument; but silence gives consent. This incident is well worth remembering, and invites a more extended examination into all the facts found in connection with our race, pertaining to the free and proper use or the neglect of the Bible, and consequent results. In the light of abundant facts we may well query with Dryden:—
“Whence but from Heaven could men unskilled in
arts,
In several ages born, in several parts,
Weave such agreeing truths? Or how, or why
Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie?
Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gains—and martyrdom their
price.”
—Sel.
A PROSPEROUS BLIND CRIPPLE.
In a sermon in Troy, N. Y., lately, upon contentment and godliness, the Rev. Dr. Webber said: “On my visiting list is the family of a cripple who supports his wife and little ones by making shoes. Not many weeks ago I called upon them, and found that in addition to the affliction resulting from the loss of his lower limbs, the husband and father had become blind. Poverty stared the little family in the face, but even then I heard no word of complaint from him. On the contrary, he made an effort to be cheerful. At a subsequent visit I found the man at work again, and when I entered his shop he exclaimed, ‘I have news for you, sir. I have good news. Last week I recovered my sight a little, and by feeling I made a pair of shoes. I got $3 for them, which paid the rent, and, thank God, we don’t owe a cent. “We are prosperous: we are prosperous, sir.” I went away ashamed of myself feeling that this poor cripple was the only person I had heard say he was prosperous during the last twelve months. Prosperous on $3 a week, while merchants who are making thousands of dollars each year, are grumbling about hard times.”—Presbyterian.
TAKE HEED HOW YE HEAR.
A heathen Indian woman once said to a Christian Indian, named Esther, “I often go to your meetings, and always hear something. One Sunday lately the minister exactly described the state of my heart. Indeed, I fully thought he would soon say, There sits a woman who is just what I have said. Do tell me how the minister knows, and who it is that tells him?”
Esther on the Word Speaking to the Heart
“Oh, yes,” said Esther, “I will tell you. The minister preaches the pure word of God, and that word speaks to the heart. If we are willing to listen to it, God works in our hearts by His Spirit, and shows us that it is spoken to us. Then we see and hear what is our real state; and every one thinks, ‘That was spoken to me!’”
EXPLANATIONS
It will be noticed in article V., sections 3 and 5, of the Constitution, that the State secretary is made treasurer of the State, and that the district secretary is made treasurer of the district, instead of the director. The utility of this plan is readily seen, especially in the latter case, as the district secretary keeps the records of all business done in the district, and therefore should have a correct account of all moneys received, for what purpose, and from whom, and also a record of all moneys paid out. His being treasurer will save much of the director's time, and will obviate confusion which is liable to occur. He does the corresponding, acting under the direction and supervision of the director; and the director sustains the same relation to the district secretary that the president does to the State secretary. All money received by the district secretary should be forwarded to the State secretary, at regular intervals.
THE LOSS OF TIME.
It will be seen by the diagram and its explanation that the business when properly done, passes through the hands of three different secretaries before reaching the Office of publication. This in most cases is the very best and easiest, as well as the most thorough way of doing the work; but in some of our large States where the brethren are mostly farmers, and are widely scattered from each other and the post office, a difficulty has arisen from the loss of time in getting business to the Office. This trouble can be largely alleviated by choosing secretaries, and especially a State secretary, who live near a post office, and who are prompt in doing the business sent to them.
Where this does not remove the difficulty, those large Conferences, such as Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, where the brethren are scattered, can arrange the matter among themselves, allowing the different librarians or individuals to send business direct to the State secretary. All moneys, however, should go through the hands of your district secretary. When the Board of Directors decide upon this plan, the individual who does business thus must notify the secretary in his district of the business thus done. All the tract business in the Conferences should be done through your State secretary with the Offices of publication; for all charges are made to the State Tract Society. A copy of all business letters to the Office should be numbered and preserved by your State secretary. This will save all confusion. Should any misunderstanding arise, an exact copy of the letter can be referred to.
Old Reviews and Reformers.
By M. L. Huntley
THE call for reading matter having become extensive in the Southern States and elsewhere, we are unable to furnish SIGNS to all who desire them. If our brethren and sisters have old REVIEWS, REFORMERS, etc., which are lying idle, and will bring them to South Lancaster when they come to attend the quarterly meeting, we can make good use of them. There are many Southern ministers having charge of large Sunday-schools, who are eager to obtain this reading matter for the use of their schools, and gladly send us sufficient to pay the postage. Thus the same papers are read by whole schools of from twenty-five to seventy-five members; and if we can judge anything from letters received, these papers are sought after with great eagerness, both by preachers and people.
M. L. HUNTLEY, Sec.
INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
Below we give a few extracts from the many letters which are received from different countries, where the light of present truth has been carried by means of tracts and papers sent by the V. M. Societies. Dr. Ribton, of Naples, Italy, writes to South Lancaster:—
“I read with great pleasure your kind letter; indeed, the greatest consolation I have in this life, next to communion with our Master, lies in the correspondence I have with his people. The word of Christ has ever been precious to me, especially of late years, when circumstances have brought me nearer to him; but I can now indorse the words which I read in one of the Adventist papers, and say that the knowledge of the things that are shortly to come to pass has made the Bible a new book to me. In fact, I began to study it over again, and hundreds of passages became clear to me, the meaning of which I had long sought in vain; passages that are read and quoted from many a pulpit without a ray of light being thrown on their true meaning. I have tasted the blessing of those that hear the word of the prophecy, despised by so many, and keep the things that are written therein.”
“I hunger and thirst after God’s work. I have but one desire,—to devote time, pen, and voice to the proclamation of God’s warning message. I see appeals in papers for preachers, and I say to God, ‘Send me.’ I am best fitted for working in this country, but rather than lose time, as I am now doing, I would go to any warm climate where there was a field for labor. The Sabbath and John’s vision have cut me off from all religious communities except the Seventh-day churches, and shown me that the greatest work to be done in the little time now remaining, is to proclaim reform in the midst of reformers themselves. But here I have to labor daily for the meat that perisheth, and in this most impoverished country, a life of continual toil hardly suffices to supply common necessaries. Day after day rolls into the past, and there is no work done for the angels to record. A service of praise in my own family, a few tracts sent out, a few words with a friend when an opportunity presents itself, that is all. I want to have ten talents for my Master when he comes, and ask him daily to open me a door. And this I feel sure he will do; but life is short, his coming is near, and I want to be at work soon. At present I have nothing but my daily labor. I hope to be better off some day, and give all I have to the work of the third angel’s message.”
“This is a sad country for a missionary to work in. There are a few who refuse to bow the knee to Baal, and these are precious in God’s eyes. Five friends have accepted God’s Sabbath, and when the Lord gives me more time, I hope to bring forward others. I have received pressing invitations to go and preach in three places, but am powerless. What an account will the rich have to render of the thousands they spend upon empty pleasures, while numbers are perishing for want of spiritual food.”
A gentleman writing from England refers to a correspondence with a friend in this country, and says:—
“Among other results it made me acquainted with the S. D. Adventist’s views and publications; and their clear statements of truth were very refreshing, and helped to mature my views on several subjects, viz., life in Christ only, death, immortality, the Sabbath, and the second coming of Christ. These subjects have been more or less agitated here for some time past, and more particularly of late. I will scatter the SIGNS sent, and also REFORMERS, but cannot offer to take them now, as my income is very limited.”
A lady from London, England, writes:—
“My object in writing is to ask you to send me, when convenient, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and I should be glad to know also the price of the HEALTH REFORMER, both of which journals have been kindly loaned me by a friend. I shall hope to receive the SIGNS soon, and when I learn the price will forward the money.”
Another lady, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, in a letter to a friend in Armada, Mich., who had been sending her tracts and papers, says:—
“I cannot find language to express my gratitude and love to you, for your kindness and interest in my spiritual welfare. May our Father bless and reward you, is my sincere wish and prayer. So far from feeling offended at anything you wrote me, I acknowledge the truth and justice of your remarks. I am, in faith, an Adventist, and I intend to try in future to be one in practice, as far as I am able, though I never knew till now how weak I am. You do not know what a trial it is for me to go all alone in this new Sabbath-keeping. My husband will not join me, but does not try to control my actions in the least. My desire is to do what is right and well pleasing in the sight of my Master. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. I desire you to pray for me that I may be strengthened, and that my faith fail not. I had a letter a short time since from my sister in Kentucky. She wrote that she had received some papers from you. She seems to be interested in them; says she can find no objection to their teachings, but thinks the Adventists seem to follow the Scriptures. This is what every one says about them. My sister says she likes the SIGNS so well she wishes she could get the paper all the time. I should think every one would like the paper, for I think it a little gem.”
Many cordial letters are received from the warm-hearted colored people in the Southern field. One minister in North Carolina, who had received a few numbers of the SIGNS, writes:—
“I am very highly pleased with such reading matter as I find in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES; and I see many books advertised in the SIGNS on such subjects that I want, not only the SIGNS, but also those books and pamphlets advertised in it, but have not the money to pay for them. I am all the time traveling and preaching among thousands of my people, and they always look for some book, paper, or tract. If you send them, I can distribute thousands to great advantage. I feel that God has heard, and is now about to answer, my long continued and incessant prayers for help of this kind. I was born and brought up in slavery, and emancipated in 1865; got my learning, or much of it, in the dark days of slavery and oppression, by the fireside, when all on the plantation were asleep. I have worked hard all day, and then studied all night many a time. For seven years past I have been traveling, and trying to preach the gospel of Christ. I am going on preaching and pursuing my studies, and do earnestly desire to grow up into the full measure and stature of a man in Christ and in the pulpit.”
Another writes:—
“Your books and papers are most gratefully accepted. The sermons in those tracts are worth any one’s reading. You ask if I will read your paper if you send it to me. I will, and will thank you for them, and if I can, will send you some subscribers. I will in the future ask you some questions concerning your doctrines.”
One man writing from Alabama says:—
“I am thankful, yea, more than thankful, to feel that we have friends North who are willing to take an interest in the welfare of the colored race. The SIGNS and HERALD come to me regularly. I am just as proud of them as any one could be. I feel as though they were God-sent blessings.”
Another writes from North Carolina:—
“I have been reading your papers with great care, and my dear wife, who is unconverted, seems to take great delight in them. I do think if she had more of them they would cause her to think more about her soul. I wish I was able to take the paper. Many of my friends hope to take it after a while.”
Another from W. Virginia says:—
“I have been praying that the Lord would open the way through which I might get some good reading matter, and I feel that my prayers are being heard and answered. They are good religious papers, but I am so situated I am not able to pay for them. My church is hardly able to rent my house. I would have left here long since, but when I think of the condition of my people I forget my own condition, and am willing to spend and be spent for them. I am glad of any reading matter you will send, if it is old books, tracts, or papers.”
Many calls for publications are received where the individuals, under the pressure of hard times, are unable to pay; yet they hunger and thirst for light and knowledge. The rapidly whitening fields demand toil and sacrifice. Who will enlist in this work and “gather fruit unto life eternal”?
