p. 15 | Canal Zone by N. C. Thornton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 7, 1910

Canal Zone

By N. C. Thornton

Early in January, a Missionary Volunteer Society was organized at Mount Hope, Canal Zone. Mount Hope is a small town about two miles from Cristobal, the Atlantic entrance to the canal. This society was organized for the express purpose of service, and the Lord has richly blessed the efforts of all who have taken an active part in it.

Thinking that more effective work could be done by the circulation of our magazines than in any other way, the society decided to take two hundred copies of the Caribbean Watchman for February. In less than a week these papers had been disposed of, and more were ordered. Before the end of the month the society had sold over five hundred copies, and all were greatly encouraged and eager to push on.

During the month of March the society sold 857 copies of the Caribbean Watchman, 135 copies of El Centinela de la Verdad (our Spanish paper, which is published at Cristobal), twenty-five copies of the Signs of the Times Monthly, twenty-five copies of the Southern Watchman, and fifty-one copies of the New-year's special number of our Chinese periodical, Signs of the Times. Also during this month the society paid the fare of five of our members to Panama City, where they went to engage in the canvassing work with our magazines and books. From these brethren we have had some excellent reports since they took up their work in Panama.

For April the society has taken 770

copies of the Caribbean Watchman, which we are now selling. The decrease in this order from that of last month was caused largely by the absence of the five members who are in Panama City.

We are planning to give a temperance program some time about the last of April. One can not conceive of a place needing temperance work more than this, and we hope that a live temperance program will awaken an interest.

Many excellent experiences with the papers are reported. One brother and his wife started out one Sunday morning about half-past ten o'clock, walked four miles to the town of Gatun, sold 104 papers, and returned home before night. Another member sold in the streets of Colon, forty-three copies of the Caribbean Watchman and fifteen of El Centinela in about one and one-half hours one Saturday night. Still another sold twenty-five copies of the Caribbean Watchman one Saturday night.

While as yet we have seen no direct fruit from the labors of the society, we remember and claim the promise that if we cast our bread upon the waters, we shall find it after many days. The people are eager to buy the papers, and we feel sure that they are read not only by the buyers but by other members of their families.

With the exception of myself, all the members of the society are West Indians, and most of our papers are sold to West Indians. There are many true souls here, and we are endeavoring to search them out, and do what we can for them, trusting the rest to God.

N. C. THORNTON.