Effective Way to Spread the Truth
By W. L. BURGAN
ONE of the most effective ways to give publicity to the second advent message over as wide a territory as possible, has recently been adopted by two of the brethren now holding an evangelistic effort in the city of Aberdeen, S. Dak. These brethren have arranged with one of the daily papers there to have synopses of their sermons published, and a circular letter has been sent out by the president of the conference to the members all over the State, calling their attention to the liberality of this paper, and requesting them to subscribe for it. The letter contains suggestions which might be of help to other brethren, especially as this is the season for tent efforts. It says, among other things:— “The Aberdeen Daily News, a sample copy of which, containing last night’s sermon, has been mailed to you, has been very courteous thus far in granting free space for reports of the sermons, notices of future subjects, etc. Our brethren in Aberdeen feel very grateful for these favors, and I believe that you, as one of the believers and supporters of this wonderful movement, will feel as do the workers there, that we should like to show our appreciation in some tangible way. In counsel with the owner of the News, we learned that the regular subscription price of the paper is fifty cents for two months, but that they will send it to our people two months for only thirty cents. Think of it! A good report of these gospel meetings comes to your mail box every day—for half a cent. Can our people, who do not often have a minister to listen to, afford to miss this chance of attending a course of lectures? “Besides this, the Aberdeen Daily News has taken a noble stand on the temperance question, and is battling to drive the home wrecker, rum, from our land. “The cause of temperance lies close to the heart of every loyal Seventh-day Adventist, and when we choose a newspaper for our home, this should not be overlooked. The News is also the leading16daily of Aberdeen and of northern South Dakota, and you will appreciate the war and general news which it contains. “It appears to me that this is a splendid opportunity to get the Lord’s message to those who do not know it. Do you not think so? “Here are several plans that suggest themselves: Subscribe for one copy for two months, at thirty cents, read the articles and enjoy them, then hand them to a friend to read, or clip them out and send to a relative. You might get a club of two at twenty-five cents each, your own name and another, or a club of five or more, at twenty cents each, to one or more addresses. “Thus in either case you help yourself and the cause we have espoused, and reciprocate in a small way at least to the Aberdeen Daily News for courtesy to our ministers in Aberdeen.” This is an excellent way to do missionary work, and could be followed with profit wherever tent efforts are being held. These newspapers carry the message into homes where neither the living preacher nor the canvasser has ever been, and with the subscriptions that come in from our people, most any newspaper will gladly open its columns for the publication of the truth, and incidentally serve as the greatest agency we have for the spread of the gospel. Not only has this paper in South Dakota promised liberal space for the publication of reports, but has also borne the expense of producing and mailing to the believers in that State the circular letter written by the president. Let others follow this plan, and thus greatly hasten the message.