Ministerial Reading Course by W. E. HOWELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 14, 1915

Ministerial Reading Course

By W. E. HOWELL

This Morning’s Mail

An inventory of this morning’s mail (January 3) shows a lively movement among our workers in reference to the Ministerial Reading Course. This one mail contains 12 reports on completing the course for 1914, and 12 registrations (paid up at $5 each) for 1915, and 12 notifications that the writers will register shortly.

Words of appreciation in these letters are numerous. Here are some of the expressions used in reference to the Reading Course: “Exceedingly helpful,” “much benefited,” “a great help in my work,” “greatly benefited thus far,” “think it very profitable,” “greatly needed by most of us,” “expect much benefit from the books selected for 1915,” “an uplift for the worker.”

Who Should Register for 1915?

All who took the course for 1914 should renew their registration for 1915. Very few of these need an invitation. One of our reading ministers in California says of the course, “It has crowded me at times, but it has done me good nevertheless, and I wish to continue in the good way.”

Another says: “I have gained great benefits from a systematic reading of the books. I wish to be a member of the 1915 course.”

Elder O. A. Olsen writes: “I am heartily in favor of this reading course, and shall do all I can to encourage others to take it. It would seem to me that all our ministers ought to take this course. I herewith inclose an order for $5 for the books for 1915.”

Some say we do not offer enough reading, but it is the desire of the committee to prescribe only a limited amount, and leave room for workers to select other reading in which they may be interested. The course for 1915 contains only about 100 pages more than that for 1914.

Some feel that they are too busy to read what is prescribed, but no one who put forth the effort in 1914 now feels to regret it. Elder E. E. Andross says: “I am so heavily pressed with my regular duties that it seems almost impossible for me to do this reading in addition to what I am doing; however, I have thought I would endeavor to do so this year. I shall be glad to have you send me the books.” If the president of a large union conference can do the reading, few others ought to excuse themselves.

Elder A. R. Ogden writes: “We expect to have a workers’ meeting in January, and will take up this matter, urging all our workers to take this Reading Course.” This is in harmony with Elder Olsen’s opinion that all our gospel workers should register for the new course for 1915.

All who desire the new “Gospel Workers” in limp leather should add fifty cents extra to their remittance.

W. E. HOWELL.