Missionary Volunteer Notes by M. E.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1908

Missionary Volunteer Notes

By M. E.

In some of our schools, bands have been formed among the students for the study of the Missionary Volunteer work. In Union College the young people's band has about twenty members, and in harmony with the recommendation passed at Mount Vernon, the band is studying the subject of adolescence. Very interesting meetings are reported.

One Missionary Volunteer secretary says, in her annual report: “Statistics of the work have not been easily compiled, as my time has been divided with other lines of work; but during the year I have written five hundred letters, sent out fifty-three circular letters, and in the one hundred sixty days which I have worked since Jan. 1, 1908, I have held sixty Bible readings, seventy-five meetings, and made three hundred fifty missionary visits. I have secured eighteen subscriptions for the Instructor, and a few for the Little Friend, Gleaner, and REVIEW; have sold one copy of ‘Great Controversy,’ six of ‘Early Writings,’ one hundred Morning Watch Calendars, seventy convention reports, and I have visited eleven churches.” It is needless to say that the Missionary Volunteer work is moving in that conference.

One of the Missionary Volunteer secretaries in the West, in corresponding with the young people in regard to taking the Reading Course, is asking them to join the “Spare Minute Circle.” There is much that is worthy of careful thought in this suggestion. Franklin said: “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that is the stuff life is made of.” Many persons squander as much time as it would require to obtain a good education. The careful preservation and use of the golden moments will greatly enrich young men and women intellectually.

“If we would not be misled by error or falsehood, the heart must be preoccupied by the truth.” This is why we are glad to see so many young people enter the Reading Course. In one community seventeen have enrolled; in another, twenty-two; and in still another, fifty-five. Some young people who are not Seventh-day Adventists are reading with us “Great Controversy,” that great arsenal of truths needed in the closing conflict.

Some temperance literature has been prepared; and two pledges are now ready—the Total Abstinence Pledge for our Missionary Volunteers, and the Temperance Pledge to be used among other youth. Now the message to us is: “Everywhere Christian workers should present to the people the principles of true temperance, and call for signers to the temperance pledge.” These words from the spirit of prophecy should be a bugle call for decided action. The work will rest largely upon our Missionary Volunteers. Many of them are already preparing to take an active part in the campaign, which it is planned to conduct late in the winter. At that time there will be a Temperance number of the Instructor. This will be an exceptionally good number. It is hoped that temperance rallies, for the purpose of arousing other youth to the importance of this noble cause, will be held by all Missionary Volunteer societies. Such a meeting should be followed by vigorous efforts to place the Temperance number of the Instructor in the hands of every young person in the United States, and at the same time each one should be urged to sign the pledge. Let us work. The spirit of prophecy says: “God will not much longer bear with this intemperate generation.” M. E.