Your ShelfYour Projects

When Sorrow Comes

9%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 35.

Read the full edition

When Sorrow Comes

By W. L. KILLEN

W. L. KILLEN
Strange as it may seem, many persons who seldom at other times open the Bible to read, will go to the bottom shelf, brush off the dust, and take it out when times are hard and clouds of depression, worry, and sorrow hang low.
Just now, when more than half the world is at war, when gloom and desolation are widespread, more Bibles are being manufactured and placed in the hands of the people than ever before.
Every one of the belligerent countries is importing Bibles from the United States. This year the Bible business will more than double that of any previous year. One New York firm claims to have sold 1,000,000 Bibles in the last twelve months.
An organization known as the Gideons is said to be the largest single customer in the Bible trade in America. The Gideons are now buying 50,000 Bibles a year. This organization is composed of commercial travelers, who place Bibles in hotel rooms and public places where other travelers may read them.
Bibles are put up and sold in nearly one thousand different styles, and they sell at from 20 cents to $50 a copy. “When other business is bad, the Bible trade is at its best,” are the words of a leading New York Bible house owner. “And,” he further said, “when other business is prosperous and every one seems to have plenty of money, the Bible trade falls off. Although America is enjoying prosperity, the Bible business is good here this year, largely due to the great demand for Bibles from Europe.”
When the average man is well off, and things go easy and he has few troubles, he is not so likely to hunt up the Bible and read as he is when enshrouded with great sorrow. Then it is that he looks to the family Bible for comfort and hope. The peoples in Europe are much the same; hence their present demand for the blessed Book. Let us pray that while they are reading it, their eyes may fall on those blessed words, “On earth peace, good will toward men.”
The same demand holds true of the good books and the literature being sent out by our publishing houses through our faithful colporteurs. The world is ripe for the third angel's message contained in these books and papers. Moreare being sold than ever before. They are being sold even by the carload. “It is true that some who buy the books will lay them on the shelf or place them on the parlor table, and seldom look at them. Still God has a care for his truth, and the time will come when these books will be sought for and read. Sickness or misfortune may enter the home, and through the truth contained in the books, God sends to troubled hearts peace and hope and rest. His love is revealed to them, and they understand the preciousness of the forgiveness of their sins. Thus the Lord cooperates with his self-denying workers.”
If the owners of the great Bible houses in our country can see that in time of need men read the blessed Bible, how is it with you, dear reader, whom God has called to give to the world at this very time the publications which lead the people to search the Bible?
High Point, N. C.