For the Finishing of the Work by E. R. PALMER.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 20, 1915

For the Finishing of the Work

By E. R. PALMER.

A Plan and a Place for Every Seventh-Day Adventist

“To Every Man His Work”

THESE words of our Saviour should not be used longer by us as a stock phrase with which to admonish one another. The eleventh hour has fully come—the last hour for work in the world’s harvest field. Already many favorable opportunities are in the past, and now, in the words of the beautiful poem,— “The work that centuries might have done Must crowd the hour of setting sun.”

Every Church Member a Soldier of the Cross

In this world the “Captain of the Lord’s host” has won his victories through all his people, and not by a few leaders only.

When the children of Israel won their great victory over the Midianites, Deborah and Barak sang a song of rejoicing, beginning with these words: “For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, for that the people offered themselves willingly, bless ye Jehovah!” Judges 5:2.

When Israel journeyed from Egypt to the land of Canaan, in that wonderful type of spiritual Israel journeying to the heavenly Canaan, every family and every individual was given a place in the ranks. All were instructed to keep their eyes fastened on the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, so that all might move forward in perfect order.

“At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.” Read Num. 9:15-23.

A Request From Ministerial Institutes

At two of the large ministerial institutes held about two years ago, action was taken requesting the General Conference and the Review and Herald Office to co-operate in bringing out a series of illustrated, four-page documents for free distribution. It was suggested that each document be devoted to one of the principal points of our faith, and that it contain matter suitable to place in the hands of the people at the close of a sermon, or to distribute among private families from house to house.

General Conference Action

In response the General Conference appointed a committee to give study to this request, and present recommendations covering the details of this plan. One of the three principal recommendations worked out by this committee was a request that the Review and Herald develop and publish what is known as—

The Present Truth Series

The Review and Herald immediately undertook the task. Considerable time was consumed in preliminary study and experiments. The first number of the series, entitled “The Bible the Word of God,” was prepared under a general title,—“The Present Truth,”—thus bringing to light in this country again the name of the first missionary periodical published by the denomination.

An Unexpected Development

While this plan was slowly developing in the usual way, the great war in Europe was declared. There was no time then to secure a list and prepare for publishing a periodical like the Present Truth Series; therefore, to meet the immediate need, the War and Eastern Question Extras were published in the form of the Present Truth Series, but as numbered Extras to the REVIEW.

The great circulation of these Extras has given a foundation for the successful use of the Present Truth Series. Encouraged by the success of this work, the Review and Herald Office proceeded to publish the Present Truth Series of Extras, a complete list of which is given in the center of this page.

A Threefold Plan

There are three principal ways in which it is suggested that these Extras be used.

Plan No. 1

The first and most important plan provides opportunity for every Seventh-day Adventist to take an important part in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. This plan, as worked out by the General Conference, embraces the whole world. It is recommended that every Seventh-day Adventist be assigned a certain territory to work with these Extras from house to house. Each member should have a territory assigned which he can properly cover once each month. Some can afford to take a thousand copies, and will have time during the month to distribute that many. Others can handle only a hundred, and still others will take only fifty, or twenty-five, or ten.

Isolated members can arrange their own territory. In churches the officers of the missionary society should subdivide and assign the territory, so that there may be no confusion.

The twenty-five Extras cover all the leading points of our faith. If distributed in order, one each month, beginning with No. 1, a large territory can be covered each month, and hundreds of thousands of people can thus become acquainted with the truth. The monthly visits, the friendly conversations concerning the truth, the Bible readings and cottage meetings which will naturally follow, will develop interests which later on will demand the attention of ministers of the conference to follow up.

The Results

It is hardly possible to calculate the results of such a forward movement as this. It is designed that this movement shall extend to all countries in the world, and that the leaflets shall be published in many languages for this purpose.

If every Seventh-day Adventist would take at least ten copies, at a cost of 5 cents a month, the leaflets could then be placed systematically in the hands of over a million families. If each could take a hundred copies, at a cost of 50 cents a month, the truth could be placed systematically in ten million families in this country.

Plan No. 2

Ministers and evangelists have realized for years the need of something like these leaflets, to place in the hands of the people when they leave the hall or tent after listening to a sermon. Many persons, unfamiliar with the subject presented, are interested and stirred at the moment, but are unable to retain the truths taught. If they could take the subject matter of the sermon home with them in this attractive form, impressions could thus be made lasting. There is no doubt that this series will be used extensively in connection with tent and hall meetings.

Plan No. 3

It is often difficult to secure a large attendance at a hall or tent. Under such circumstances these leaflets will be found of inestimable value. The workers connected with evangelical meetings, when sent out through the town with announcements of the meetings, can take along the leaflet which covers the subject presented in the tent the previous evening. The worker, when inviting the people to come to hear the truth, can present one of these leaflets, with the remark that it covers the subject presented the previous evening. Thus a whole town or city where the people naturally shun a gospel tent, can be kept reading the truth; and surely the truth itself and the repeated invitations from the workers will increase the attendance at the tent, and open the way for numerous calls and family Bible readings.

Not Out of Date

None of these Extras will become old or out of date. They present subjects that are always new. They are published at the cheapest possible price, with little, if any, profit to any one. This is wholly a forward missionary gospel movement, in which it is designed that all our people shall have a part.

If you are an isolated member, do not delay because of being alone. Arrange your territory, and order your supply from your conference tract society. You can order month by month the number needed, or you can order a certain number of the entire series.

E. R. PALMER.