Editor's Testimonial Concerning the Book, “Bible Readings for the Home Circle”
By Walter L. Burgan
ONE of the most striking illustrations of the power of the newspapers in molding opinion favorable to our cause, was recently given in the city of Roanoke, Va., where one of our colporteurs was selling, “Bible Readings for the Home Circle.” This brother visited the editor of a daily newspaper there, and left with him a copy of the book, that he might examine it, and if favorably impressed, write something about it in the paper. Our brother then visited the mayor of the city, who said that the giving of his order depended upon the way the editor felt toward the book. The editor wrote a most interesting editorial on the merits of the book, whereupon the mayor gave his order, and this opened the way for a number of other orders to be taken. The editorial appeared in the World-News of April 6, and reads as follows:— “Reading or studying the Bible may be a dull experience, or it may be delightful and interesting. It all depends on how the study or reading is undertaken. If we follow the Bible purely as a routine duty, it will not have for us the attraction and instruction that it ought to have and can have. If we take hold of it in earnest, get into the very depths of its wonderful mysteries, its uplifting lessons and history, we find it a fascinating companion, always new and fruitful, and containing information and suggestions that in the beginning seemed impossible. To obtain the best results from the pages of this marvelous book, the student must have many aids, and the chief of these is of course the writings of devoted Christian workers. These writings extend over thousands of years, those on the Old Testament penetrating into the remote past, and those on the New Testament to the birth of Jesus Christ. “One of the most interesting and valuable of works on the Bible that we have had the good fortune to come into the possession of recently is, ‘Bible Readings for the Home Circle,’ a topical work arranged for home and private study, and printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, of Washington, D. C. More than a million and a quarter copies of this book have been sold. The copy of it which the World-News has obtained is a revised and enlarged edition, containing two hundred readings, in which are answered nearly four thousand questions on important religious subjects. These are contributed by Bible students, and present an array of knowledge on Biblical points that must prove extremely valuable. The publishers are represented in this community by Mr. S. N. Wilmer. “With an index carefully and accurately arranged, the reader can find his way through the pages of this volume with ease, learning first the origin of the Bible, its history, and its place in the world, and then passing into almost a thousand pages of questions and answers that cover a vast ground and seem to embrace every possible point of Bible truth and discussion. Through lessons thus to be obtained, the student may learn the Bible view of life in its every phase. He may be armed with truth in all its strength, and for every problem that human existence presents, for every sorrow, and for every triumph; he may find the right answer. Seemingly each human need is weighed and each religious longing fulfilled. And in the end, in the simple but beautiful admonition of Proverbs, ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,’ there is the solution of every mystery and the pointing out of the way to victory.”—The World-News, Roanoke, Va., April 6, 1916; J. M. Miles, editor. Our colporteurs over all the field would do well to clip this article from the REVIEW AND HERALD, and use it in visiting editors in their respective localities. No doubt many editors would be of the same opinion as the editor in Virginia, and by publishing something concerning “Bible Readings” they might open the way for our agents to place copies of this book in the home of people where they might not otherwise meet with success. Let us praise the Lord for the many opportunities that are continually coming to us to reach people with the light of gospel truth.