Editors Friendly to Our Message by W. L. BURGAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1915

Editors Friendly to Our Message

By W. L. BURGAN

The message proclaiming the soon coming of the Lord is still being published over broad fields through the newspapers of this and other countries. A large corps of our brethren and sisters are taking advantage of the opportunities before them to enlighten their communities through this medium. Many of our lay members are asking for material to give to their home editors, while others are preparing articles explaining from a Biblical standpoint the reasons for the terrible conditions that now exist in the earth, and are making plain the fact that these conditions foretell the return of the Saviour.

Many editors, when presented with sermons or articles in the form of interviews or letters dealing with the unrest now in the world as foretold in the Sacred Word, express their interest in such accounts, and gladly consent to publish them. It has been stated repeatedly that the vast majority of editors are unacquainted with the truths of the Bible; and when articles dealing with the great war or other events of the day are prepared properly, they are received with thankfulness. On a number of occasions the presentation of such articles has been the means of throwing open the columns of newspapers for a series of articles, with the result that some have accepted present truth who obtained their first knowledge of it through this agency.

A worker in Michigan has been having some interesting experiences in writing for the papers. He says:—

“The editors here seem to be very friendly, and since I have furnished them with articles a number of times, they have requested items. One of the editors told me that he considered them good news, and that he enjoyed reading them. They have helped in bringing the truth before the busy class of people. They are also a help in increasing the attendance at our services. As I meet the people, they often speak of the articles, and if a week goes by without something in the papers, some one is sure to remind me of it. I know that it counts in souls saved in the kingdom of God.”

One sister in California volunteers the following encouraging testimony concerning the newspaper work:—

“For a number of years I have been supplying the local papers with articles in regard to our message for these last days. When there are lectures or sermons by our visiting ministers, one paper, especially, has always published synopses of them. We had the statistical reports published, and some of the other articles were also accepted. One of the editors who had favored the ‘newspaper bills’ before Congress last winter, published in full our article on the subject, and gave the matter his personal investigation, saying he would sign the petition against the bills, and send it to Washington.”

This sister says she is glad to co-operate with the movement to give the message through the newspapers, and she has met with excellent success in her efforts. Her idea of supplying extracts of the lectures and sermons given by the visiting ministers is one that should be followed all over the country. Editors are generally willing to give publicity to the visiting ministers’ remarks, as well as to the remarks of others, and no opportunity should be lost to herald the truth through this agency.

One of our lay brethren in Illinois, who is a physician by profession, says he is using the newspapers to speed on the message. He says, “I can see that the Lord is moving upon editors to lend their powerful influence in this, the day of his power.”

A minister in Minnesota, who has been meeting with excellent success in his newspaper work, tells of a recent effort in one of the large cities of that State:—

“During our ‘Bible Chautauqua Tent’ series, more than forty articles on present truth appeared. My Sunday sermon reports always appear, and I know they are read far and wide. I learn from others in many Minnesota towns that these reports are closely followed. . . . Our workers need to be educated to this thing, and then to keep steadily at it.”

This brother’s suggestion that our workers should “keep steadily at it” in giving the message through the newspapers is a good one. This kind of endeavor requires just as much perseverance as any other in the Lord’s work, and should always be reckoned as a large factor in our efforts to reach every nation, kindred, tongue, and people with the gospel in this generation.

W. L. BURGAN.