p. 18 | Home Missionary Experiences in the Regions Beyond

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1916

Home Missionary Experiences in the Regions Beyond

By Edith M. Graham

Japan

FROM a letter written by Sister Stacey we take the following interesting experiences:—

“When the spring weather commenced, I started to do a little canvassing with the Japanese paper. The Japanese buy very readily from foreigners, especially a foreign woman, even though she can say only a few words. In fact, it seems as if they buy just because she is a foreigner. Of course I cannot do much more than ask them to buy and tell them the price, and I leave the paper to tell its own message. I first tried this in the village near our compound when taking my little girl for a walk. A few days later we formed a band to go into the city one Monday morning. There were six Japanese sisters and three foreign sisters, including myself. In less than three hours after arriving on our territory, we had sold one hundred and eighty papers, besides tracts. The foreigners sold from forty-five to fifty copies, one sister, who had canvassed before, selling as many as twenty papers, while the Japanese averaged seven each. This illustrates how much easier it is for the foreigner.

“Another day Sister Herboltzheimer and I went out with one hundred and fifty-eight papers and fifty-five tracts, besides children’s Scripture cards for free distribution. It was a hot day, but we sold all, besides giving away all our cards. We both ran out of tracts early in the day. Tomorrow or the next day, my husband and I are going out together.

“In connection with our Tokio tent effort, we are printing each day, for use by the tent workers, a one-page synopsis of the sermon. The series will cover about thirty sermons or more, starting with the true God and creation, and ending with the leading truths of the message. I have often wished we had a series of leaflets like this, so that we could work up what we call at home ‘tract rounds.’ And now our sisters’ society has embraced the opportunity, and placed an order for five hundred of each to be printed extra for their use. Last Wednesday we took out the first number. There are twelve of us, but as three have to take a Japanese sister to act as interpreter, it reduces the number of our rounds to nine. We divided the main street of the village into rounds of about twelve houses each, and later we shall start another similar campaign among the people scattered about off the main road. The rest of our five hundred

papers of each number will be used for free distribution on trains, etc.

“It certainly did my heart good to see these sisters take up this line of work with such interest. I believe we should work to the end of encouraging all believers to take an active part in the giving of the message. It will mean their own salvation as well as the salvation of many others.”

South Africa

In South Africa, in the districts which are sparsely settled, our people have been working by missionary correspondence. About three thousand papers are sent out each month. These papers are bringing in many new subscriptions and words of appreciation. One person writes from far-away north, saying: “Is there no one in your society who could bring the message of light and truth to —? Souls are dying in the darkness, sorely in need of some bright worker. Religion is occupying the secondary place, or no place.”

From another letter we learn that “a gentleman wrote of his appreciation of the Sentinel which we had mailed to him, inclosing the subscription and asking for back numbers, as he was deeply interested in the clear teaching of the paper.

“This week a gentleman called at 56 Roeland Street, and asked if it was the office of the South African Sentinel. On receiving an affirmative reply, he stated that as he crossed one of Cape Town’s busy streets, he kicked against a magazine. On picking it up he found it to be the Sentinel. Though soiled with mud, he was able to find light that he had been seeking for years. He wanted a clean copy for himself, back numbers, and several copies for friends; and leaving his subscription, he carried away his prized magazines.

“While sitting in the barber’s chair recently, a brother was informed of, and advised to subscribe for, that ‘fine little paper, the South African Sentinel.’ The man recommended it because he had found it such splendid help. He was a Sunday-school teacher, and found the paper invaluable in preparing suitable instruction for his class. Then, too, it showed so clearly what the Bible teaches about current events. Said the barber, by way of emphasis, ‘I recommend that paper to all my customers. I cut General Botha’s hair when he attends Parliament, and I shall recommend it to him.’”

South America

“The Florida church has fixed the first Sunday of each month for a special canvass campaign with our missionary paper. The offices and printing plant shut down, and everybody is supposed to go out and sell papers. The first Sunday of this month we all went out and had a very successful and happy day.”

Our South American members are also carrying on missionary correspondence, and the following letter is one response received:—

“To the Argentine Tract Society.

“DEAR SIRS: I have just received a copy of the magazine El Atalaya, published by that society, and a letter from the same, which I hasten to answer.

“This paper has come to confirm my ideas which I had formed about the present condition of things in the world, and which I had been studying with the help of the book ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ also published by that society, and the Holy Bible.

“As I find that this paper will help me to understand better the meaning of the prophecies, I should be grateful if you will kindly let me know the price of the subscription, so that I may contribute to the development of such a noble enterprise.”

These experiences are encouraging, for they show that in different parts of the world the church members are rallying to the standard of Prince Immanuel, to do their part in finishing the battle.

EDITH M. GRAHAM.