Untitled article by H. F. PHELPS

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 26, 1867

ARTICLES SELECTED.

By H. F. PHELPS

The world has had, and still contains, many thinking men and women; and many things have been said and written that are true, and yet many things that are not true. From the many books and papers that now flood the world, might be made noble selections, choice articles with which no one could find any fault, and have no objection to their appearing in just such a paper as the Review. But should not a paper engaged in heralding the last and most solemn message to the world, be mostly filled with original articles? I think so. Among the many thousand readers of the Review, are there not enough who are capable of writing out their thoughts, who can and will engage themselves immediately in this duty? It is needed. The paper should be filled with stirring appeals in favor of the truth. Who cannot pen a few thoughts? Who cannot give a bit of experience? Who cannot tell a little of their determinations? of their joys? their hopes? their fears? what trials of faith, what persecutions they have to endure? and how they are delivered out of them all? Who, I say, cannot add some of these things and so fill our paper with interesting, original articles?

You did write once, did you, and it never appeared. There was probably a good reason for it. So try again, and if you fail, “Try, try again.” Or may be you have written two or three times, and one piece appeared. Well this is encouraging. Try again. Write oftener.

Come, brethren, let us be up and doing. The editor needs our help. Let us fill his drawer to overflowing, with pieces fresh from the heart, thoughts dictated by the Spirit of God. Let us pray for a fresh baptism into this work, and what we have to do, do it with our might.

Does it not indicate a low state of spirituality on the part of the church, to see the paper filled with selections? To say the least it seems to indicate a lack somewhere. Shall this lack be on our part? I hope not. I will try that it shall not be so with me. Who will be another, and another, till there shall be an abundance of good, wholesome material with which to fill the paper?

I was led to these thoughts from a view of my last paper; and at this present writing I have read considerable of it. It is all good. I have no objections to the selections, only it seems they do not speak with the same power as those coming from a living witness. Who will answer to this call?

H. F. PHELPS.

Pine Island, Minn.