Home Missionary Department by Edith M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

Home Missionary Department

By Edith M. Graham

E. M. GRAHAM - - - General Secretary

F. W. PAAP - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

A Token of the Times

We recently learned that in one State an effort is being made to exclude from work on any fruit farm all who vote or work for prohibition. This will, of course, include Seventh-day Adventists, for they are all on the prohibition side. This is another token that the time when we shall be able to neither buy nor sell is drawing near.

At the present time, however, this movement is rather a blessing in disguise. Why should our young people spend their time picking fruit when they might be gathering souls? Why should they not rather go out with our books and magazines and give the warning message?

We now have three fine books that our young people, and older members, too, can use to good effect. They are “The World’s Crisis,” “The Vatican and the War,” and “The Shadow of the Bottle.” Each sells for twenty-five cents retail, and to those who take several copies, the regular canvasser’s discount is given.

Here are a few illustrations of how these books sell:—

One sister worked seven hours and sold nineteen books; profit to her, $2.37. I wonder how many can make $2.37 in seven hours picking fruit, though money-making should not be the aim in our work. It is the giving of the message which we have in mind. The Lord will see that the workers receive their just wages.

One young colored man took forty-seven subscriptions for one of these books in three days. Another brother sold twelve in one day. A sister took seven orders in her first hour’s work.

These are merely illustrations of the success our people are having in selling these books. There ought to be at least a million copies of each book sold.

It seems evident that more and more, as the end draws nearer, our people will be shut out from the ordinary work of the world, conditions becoming such that our peculiar principles will make us undesirable employees to worldly men. Why should we wait until we are pushed out of these occupations? Why not enter the Lord’s work now, as willing volunteers? There is success waiting for every earnest, consecrated worker. People were never so interested in our literature as they are now, nor so anxious to secure it. All the Lord needs is willing hands to take it to them. May he have yours? EDITH M. GRAHAM.