Notes of Progress by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1907

Notes of Progress

By E. R. Palmer

A LETTER from the Northern California Tract Society gives the actual sale of literature by that office during the past two years and nine months, as follows: For 1905, $8,125.18; for 1906, $17,260.03; for 1907 (nine months), $26,232.34.

Letters recently received from nearly all the principals of our denominational schools in the United States indicate that these schools are full to overflowing. One encouraging feature is made very clear in these letters; namely, that the subscription-book work is filling our schools, and the schools are recruiting workers for the subscription-book work.

The canvassers in the Northern California Conference are known as the “King’s Messengers.” This very fitting, expressive name for their canvassers has seemed to have almost a magnetic power in drawing the young people together and in stimulating them to faithful service. I have before me another new name for the canvassers in the extreme eastern field in the Atlantic Union Conference. These workers are to be known as the “Gideon Band.” If this name should, under the blessing of God, stimulate the workers in the East to that quality of valor and faithfulness for the work of the Lord of hosts which the name implies, we shall see great things accomplished, even though the number of workers may not be large. May the Lord speed these valiant bands, and enable them to run swiftly from home to home with the glad tidings.

In a recent number of the union conference paper published by the Australasian Union Conference, appears the following news item: “We have just received a weekly report, which excels all previous records from our canvassers. It is from Brother Fred Parkin, of the East Indian field. The orders taken during the week for ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation’ amounted to $364.50. The two following weeks his reports were, respectively, $316.75 and $315.50. This shows how abundantly the Lord is blessing in the distribution of literature in that field.” This news item calls up an interesting little story which every boy and girl may read and ponder with profit. Now that he has grown to manhood, and the Lord has crowned his efforts with success, Brother Parkin will not object to the telling of the story by his old friend and teacher. When a lad, in his early teens, Fred had a burning desire to attend the Avondale School for Christian Workers. He lived in Williamstown, a suburb of Melbourne, over six hundred miles from the

school. With a few dollars in his pocket with which to pay his steerage fare on the boat and buy his books on his arrival at the school, he started out for himself to secure an education. Through some misfortune on the boat, he lost the little money that he had, and arrived in the large seaport city of Sydney, seventy-six miles from the school, without a penny in his pocket. Nothing daunted, he set out on foot on the railway track, and walked the whole distance. When he arrived at the school, he had no money, but little clothing, and no recommendations except his honest face, his willingness to work, and his determination to secure an education. He was given work on the farm, and soon became the best plowman we had. Year after year he worked on without flinching, until his purpose had been accomplished, and then he volunteered for self-supporting missionary work in the East Indies. We rejoice with him and his many friends in the success he is having in selling our books. May the faithfulness and determination of his boyhood days be manifested in his chosen work as a missionary.

E. R. PALMER.

Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.