First-Fruits of the Thanksgiving Ingathering

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 10, 1908

First-Fruits of the Thanksgiving Ingathering

THE churches of the District of Columbia held a union meeting at Pythian Temple, Sabbath, November 28, and many interesting experiences with the Ingathering number of the REVIEW were related. Without exception, a good degree of success had attended the efforts of those who had engaged in the work in an energetic manner. The average amount received for each paper reported was $1.21. Several reported as much as ten dollars received from one individual. One man, who was not at home when the solicitor called, received the paper that was left for him, and at once sent a messenger with ten dollars to the home of the solicitor. Thanksgiving week will not see the end of this good work in the District of Columbia; for plans have been laid to continue the work until after the week of prayer.

Many persons have written to the Office, expressing a determination to continue the work of soliciting until Christmas. One sister who expects to do this, writes: “I had fifty papers. I called upon the wealthy class first. My first paper brought five dollars for missions. I never took part in a work that I so delighted in as I do in soliciting for missions.”

One of our church-school teachers in Ohio writes: “I am feeling enthusiastic to-day; my school of six pupils secured eight dollars in donations yesterday. It is the first work of this kind they have ever done. Of course, the money will all be applied on the Foreign Mission fund.”

A worker in California reports a donation of fifty dollars from one person.

The president of a conference in New England, in reporting the work in his territory, mentions one sister who secured forty-seven dollars for forty-seven papers, and another who took out forty-three papers, and returned with forty-three dollars, an average of one dollar apiece.

The first six reports from Indiana show an average of twenty-two cents received for the papers used.

The secretary of one of the tract societies in the Atlantic Union Conference went out one morning before seven o’clock, delivered two papers, and collected one dollar and a half for them.

From Memphis, Tenn., comes a report of a sister who received donations amounting to seven dollars from five papers.

From all parts of the United States come reports of good cheer, hearty appreciation of the work, and liberal donations from those solicited. The refrain of all those who send in reports seems to be, “Why did we not think of this plan before?”