p. 21 | Missionary Notes of Travel by A. J. S. B.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 21, 1910

Missionary Notes of Travel

By A. J. S. B.

LEAVING Washington January 2, the writer spent twelve weeks in the field in behalf of our missionary and publishing work. The general meetings attended were as follows, in the order named:—

Book Men's Convention, College View, Neb., January 3-10.

Missionary Convention, College View, Neb., January 8-12.

Central Union Conference, St. Joseph, Mo., January 13-23.

Pacific Union Conference, Mountain View, Cal., January 24-30.

California Conference, Lodi, Cal., February 1-7.

Missionary Convention, Portland, Ore., February 21-24.

Book Men's Convention, Portland, Ore., February 25 to March 2.

The Western Canadian Union Conference and Publishing Convention, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, March 14 to 16.

In addition to regular institute work we gave stereopticon lectures and general instruction in connection with these general meetings. The writer also delivered lectures at St. Helena, Cal., February 2; at the new Pacific Union College, February 3; the Loma Linda College of Evangelists, February 8; Fernando Academy, February 9; and at Walla Walla College, March 1 and 2.

We are happy to report that in all of these fields the officers of the union and local conferences, as well as the lay members, are determined to prosecute with earnest zeal the work in all departments of home missionary endeavor.

The delegates at each of the four union conferences mentioned, recommended unanimously the appointment of missionary secretaries for the union as well as the local conferences. These secretaries will have oversight of the circulation and sale of our tracts, trade books, forty-per-cent books, periodicals, and magazines. In short, they will promote the distribution of all of our literature, excepting the regular subscription books.

In our stereopticon lectures we traced the growth of the gospel publishing and colporteur work from the time of the faithful Waldenses (A. D. 1100) down to our own time, calling special attention, also, to the publishing work carried on by Wyclif and his faithful canvassers in England, and by Martin Luther and his hundreds of canvassers and tract societies in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is very interesting to trace the similarity between the publishing efforts of the great Reformers of the sixteenth century and those put forth by Seventh-day Adventists in this generation.

We shall publish from week to week other items of progress connected with the holding of these institutes. See also the twelve recommendations published elsewhere in this department.

We have nothing but good to report of these excellent conventions. Many of the lay members attended the meetings regularly, and expressed themselves as more than grateful for the benefits they derived therefrom. It is high time that all phases of the home tract and missionary work be given a more careful study by our people, inasmuch as such work lies at the foundation of all missionary endeavor. A. J. S. B.