Missionary Publications by Mrs. D. A. Fitch

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 12, 1908

Missionary Publications

By Mrs. D. A. Fitch

MRS. D. A. FITCH

Persons who are sufficiently interested in the progress of the third angel’s message to send publications in answer to requests for them must also wish to save postage on papers which can not be used, and, too, to preserve from mutilation every precious page. Hence a few suggestions from one who receives many packages may not be out of place.

Occasionally those so badly soiled, as to be totally unfit to leave even in an obscure place are sent. More frequently some which were clean at the start do not remain so, because of insufficient wrapping, and so the outer periodical must be discarded. The wrapper should cover all parts of the printed matter.

A roll of Life and Health, Little Friend, or folded copies of the Instructor are sometimes placed in a copy or two of the Signs of the Times rolled full length. The invariable result is that the ends of the outer paper remind one of the efforts of a three-year-old to make a ruffle, and no effort of the ironer can restore the paper to its original plainness. Since none but clean, smooth papers should be used, this must be thrown aside. Each package should be of uniform size throughout its entire length, to prevent rumpling in the mails.

Since the REVIEW AND HERALD is not quite so well adapted to pioneer missionary work as several other of our papers, could it not mainly be used among those of our members who are unable to subscribe for it, or among those somewhat negligent about furnishing themselves with the periodical which should be the first to find a place in every Seventh-day Adventist home?

Papers dated years ago contain matter to lead souls into the truth, but are not generally as eagerly read as though fresh and “up to date.” Articles from such may be advantageously used in scrap-books. If some choice portion is printed on both sides of a leaf, fasten it by the margin only. If too large for the book, fold it conveniently, and it will be both safe and readable.

One sister takes the first-page cover from two copies of the REVIEW AND HERALD and pastes them together, second pages inside. They are carefully smoothed and dried, to be sent to a hospital and distributed to such patients as are unable to hold a book or full-sized paper. The precious poems and Scripture texts are food for the soul. The remainder of the paper is almost as suitable for filing or study as before the covers were removed. Let us study to make the best use of every scrap of printed matter containing the precious truth.

‘God’s truth as it is passed out will multiply greatly. And as the disciples by Christ’s direction gathered up the fragments that nothing might be lost, so we should treasure every fragment of literature containing the truth for this time. None can estimate the influence that even a torn page containing the truths of the third angel’s message may have upon the heart of some seeker after truth.’—Mrs. E. G. White.

Glendale, Cal.