Good Words From Far Countries by E. R. P.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 6, 1910

Good Words From Far Countries

By E. R. P.

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Prov. 25:25.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.” Isa. 52:7.

These words have sung in our hearts, and lifted us far above the humdrum of office routine and perplexities, as we have read from day to day the beautiful letters, filled with good cheer and reports of success, which have come to us, especially during the past two weeks, from our sturdy pioneer workers in Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Porto Rico, South Africa, Turkey, and many other foreign lands, not to mention the good letters, almost, if not quite, as cheering from the union conferences of North America.

Here are a few sentences from these letters. We only wish that space would permit us to publish many of these letters in full:—

Argentina

Brother N. Z. Town writes from Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 21: “The school closed successfully November 8. The next day Brother Max Trummer and I started for Buenos Aires with a company of nine canvassers. Three of these have gone to Uruguay, and the other six are located in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We spent Sabbath here in Florida, and then Brother Trummer and I accompanied these canvassers to the field.”

Then follows an interesting account of Brother Town's effort to secure the right for these canvassers to sell books without paying the heavy license fees. He

applied on the basis that the workers were missionaries, working for the good of the public. He was sent from one officer to another, until finally he received the reply, “All right, go ahead and make your propaganda.” Brother Town says: “In the meantime, we had been going ahead, and had already taken about a dozen orders. During the two days I remained with these workers, we were able to make a good start. The first half-day that Brother Trummer worked alone, he took five orders for Spanish ‘Coming King.’ Since I left them, they have been having excellent success. At the end of the fourth day, including the day they arrived in their field, Brother Trummer writes as follows:—

“‘MY DEAR BROTHER: We have had very rich blessings bestowed upon us since you left here. I can hardly believe my own self. We have been enabled to take forty-seven orders. I am so encouraged over our success in the very beginning that I feel like praising the Lord out loud.’”

“I believe there is a bright future before the book work here in Argentina and in other South American countries.”

A personal letter received from Brother Trummer is also filled with the spirit of courage and determination. The majority of his canvassers speak the German, which is Brother Trummer's native tongue, but several of them can speak Spanish only. Brother Trummer is working in the field from house to house with the canvassers, determined that he will gain all the experience he can, and as much of the language as possible, by direct contact with the people.

Brazil

Brother Henry Tonjes sends in his first report from Brazil, and in a letter dated December 1 he says:—

“Enclosed please find my report for October and November. We now have nine canvassers in the field,—four Germans and five Brazilians. They are working harmoniously, and are of good courage. In spite of the fact that eighty-six per cent of the people of Brazil can neither read nor write; in spite of the long distances the dear boys have to travel; in spite of the hot season; in spite of the heavy taxes the canvassers are compelled to pay; in spite of all the Catholics they meet; in spite of the poverty-stricken, superstitious, and priest-ridden people; in spite of the fact that the boys are inexperienced workers; and in spite of all the walls the enemy can erect, the battle is on, and the records are continually running higher. Yesterday's mail brought me the following from one of my canvassers:—

“‘DEAR BROTHER TONJES: Peace for greetings. Last Friday I had a wonderful experience. By faith I walked alone from here to Monte Azul, a seven-hours' walk, and behold, I sold that day sixty-two milreis' (nineteen dollars United States money) worth of our literature. I could find no words to thank the dear Lord for such a blessing. He has shown me that he will work if we only go forward by faith.’”

“Another report brings still better news. Brother Antonio Leoncio da Phenha writes that he has found two persons very much interested in our message, and that they told him of a whole church in harmony with our truth. We are already making preparations to visit them. Although we have no large books with which to make big sales, we are doing the best we can with what we have, and the dear Lord blesses our humble efforts to bring the truth we love so much to the people in Brazil.”

Mexico

We have already reported the phenomenal sales of the new Spanish health book, “Home and Health,” in Mexico. Our readers will be interested to learn concerning the deliveries. Brother L. E. Borle, manager of the Mexican publishing house, in a letter dated December 21, says:—

“The boys are having excellent success in their deliveries. Last week Brother Robinson delivered books amounting to 1,294.50 pesos ($647.25 United States gold), and Brother Brown, 717.75 pesos ($358.88 United States gold), besides taking 177 pesos' worth of orders.”

In response to calls through the REVIEW, we already have several volunteers on our list for Mexico. We trust that the Lord will direct in selecting such men as will be sturdy and strong in the good work that is being built up there.

We are rejoiced to hear that Brethren Robinson and Brown, who had decided to attend school for a few months in California, have reconsidered this matter, and have decided to stay by the good work in which they are pioneering, until the beginning of another school year, thus giving time for recruits to be trained to take their places.

Peru

Brother E. T. Wilson, formerly a student at the Foreign Mission Seminary, writes from Lima, Peru, November 28:—

“Enclosed please find report for the month of October, which I wish was larger, yet I am glad we were able to increase a little over the average for

the preceding six months. We are expecting to have Elder Town with us during our institute. Our plan is to call in all the colporteurs, and, in fact, all the workers who sell any books at all, and have a four-weeks' feast of good things with them, holding regular classes in Bible study, book study, and all the detail work of a canvassers' institute. I made a trip to the famous Cerro de Pasco mines a few weeks ago, taking along some books in both English and Spanish. While there, I sold over one hundred sols' worth (fifty dollars).”

After working with the people for a few months in Peru, and studying conditions there, Brother Wilson is convinced that the time is ripe for selling religious books, even large, high-priced books, as there are thousands among the wealthy classes who are wishing to study the Scriptures for themselves.

Surely the readers of these reports which are appearing from week to week in the REVIEW will not fail to recognize that this is an opportune time for selling books containing our message in all the Spanish-American countries; and similar facts are pressed upon us from nearly every country in the world. Now is our time for earnest work. It is high time for us all to lift up our eyes and look on the fields that are whitening ready to harvest.

It is our earnest prayer daily that the publishing work may prove a mighty instrument in God's hands for lightening the world with his glory.

E. R. P.