Lay Members Using Newspapers by W. L. BURGAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1915

Lay Members Using Newspapers

By W. L. BURGAN

WHILE ministering brethren in different parts of the world have given their cooperation to the efforts that are being put forth to herald the second advent message through the newspapers, it is also encouraging to learn of the interest that is being manifested by lay brethren and sisters in this feature of our great movement.

One of the most recent demonstrations of cooperation by lay members of the church in North America to tell the world of the magnitude of the work of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, was given in connection with the statistical report of the growth of our cause. Copies of this report were sent to practically every local elder or leader in North America, with a request that it be read to the church members for their encouragement, and then submitted to the home newspapers for publication. Up to the first of the year we had heard from brethren and sisters in thirty States and some of the provinces of Canada where this report was published. The clippings, pasted together, would make two hundred columns. No doubt many of those who had this report published were encouraged by the favorable comment they heard from friends who had read of the remarkable growth of our denomination.

The newspaper is one of the best mediums we can use to educate the world concerning the largeness of our missionary operations, and, if used, it will also be the means of giving honest persons right conclusions concerning the Lord’s work, and lead them to inquire further into the mystery of godliness.

Not only have our local elders and leaders appreciated the importance of using the papers for the enlightenment of those in darkness, but our faithful co-porteurs are also securing the publication of precious words of life as they visit from place to place. This is a time above all other times when editors will give our cause and the truth we hold publicity, because many of them are convinced that the Lord has blessed us with a knowledge of the Scriptures for these last days.

One brother in Kansas has recently had some encouraging experiences in his newspaper efforts. When he arrived in that State a short time ago, he saw that much more could be done to advance the message through the newspapers than was being done, and began to write. In a letter he says:—

“After learning that very little was being done to advance the truth through the secular press, I at once proceeded to see what the papers here would do for us. It was no trouble to get in almost anything we wanted published. I have had brief articles on the statistical growth of the denomination published in several papers, and perhaps they have been published in others of which I do not know, as I have sent articles to the brethren to use.

“While in Topeka a few days ago the president of the conference spoke to a small audience in the church there on the signs of the times. I wrote up a short report of it and took it to one of the leading dailies. The editor did not print quite all of it, but put in the headlines that the seven last plagues are soon to visit the earth. I had made reference to them in the report. The next day the elder of the church was in an office down town. The manager has been practically an infidel, and it seemed could not be reached, as this brother has done business with him for years. On this day, when he saw our brother he called him to his desk and gave him a chair, and said he wanted to talk with him. He referred to the article in the morning paper, and wanted to know what it meant. Our brother pointed him to the prophecies, and supplied him with reading matter, as he was anxious to read anything he could get on the subject of the signs of the times. I felt that this was worth while, and it encouraged me to go ahead.

“You see I have no appointment to do this kind of work, though the president seems willing that I shall do what I can. There may be more being done than I know of. What little I can do I do on the side, and let the Lord look after the results. I am on good terms with the editors here, and have requests for more material from one of them.”

One sister in the West Pennsylvania Conference became burdened over the importance of using the newspapers in connection with our evangelistic work. and she has been rewarded for her efforts. In her letter she says: “The attendance at the meetings was small, the sermons were excellent, and it seemed such a pity that so few people were getting the benefits to be had at the tent. I talked with the brethren about writing for the papers. They said they couldn’t do it. I had in the past written some at camp meeting time, so I tried it here. Everything sent to the leading daily was used.”

Another sister, in the State of Washington, who is employed as a typesetter on a newspaper in her home city, has met with success in having articles published. She says the editor is glad to get the information she submits to him.

A brother in Virginia has had access to the columns of his home papers, and is giving various phases of the message in an extensive way. Recently the editor of one paper has published a series of articles for him, and has just started another series. These articles have aroused the ire of an opposer, but our brother has been permitted to answer his arguments with words of truth, and considerable interest has been manifested by the readers of the paper.

Reports come from other brethren and sisters of the laity who are using this agency for the advancement of the message. It is encouraging to learn that this phase of our work is continuing to increase in its scope. W. L. BURGAN.