Blessings That Have Followed the Earthquake
By E. R. Palmer
WHILE nearly all papers and magazines are publishing details of the great catastrophe which has recently visited the Pacific Coast, it may be well for us to recount briefly a few of the very precious blessings which the good Lord has showered upon us just at this time when blessings were very much needed to quiet overwrought nerves and re-establish the good cheer and hope of those who have suffered. God’s dealing with his children is wonderfully planned and executed; and in such a time as this it is indeed comforting and reassuring to know that God so times the giving of his most precious blessings that they shall come immediately following the severest chastisements. Please note the following points and enter with us into the enjoyment of them:— 1. Although the walls of the Pacific Press building were thrown down, still the machines, with the exception of the linotypes, were uninjured, so that the office was running as usual in a few hours after the earthquake. 2. While there was a great loss in property by this destruction, the Lord moved upon the hearts of his people to give liberally for the relief of the Pacific Press. Thus the damage will be fully repaired, and both the Pacific Press and our people will be made better from the experience. In receiving the gifts, the Pacific Press will learn anew the strength and liberality of the supporters of this cause, and in giving, the hearts of the people will be enlarged and made stronger. 3. During the three weeks following the earthquake, the Signs of the Times has had a greater circulation than during six months under normal conditions. What a wonderful blessing this is to the world, to the workers, and to the Pacific Press. 4. Orders are coming in, yes, they are literally piling up, for the souvenir booklet which shows views of the earthquake, and for the tract which tells the meaning of these things. It is wonderful how an incident like this can arouse the people everywhere to service. This is another evidence that God has abundant resources within his power for setting in motion, the mighty forces which will close his work in righteousness. 5. Whereas in the past our people have worked hard to sell the Signs and other literature, this experience has turned the tables about so that the people call after our agents, and are greatly pleased that an opportunity is thus given them to buy the truth; and whereas our agents have often found it difficult to make a living from the sale of papers, they are now finding that they earn more from selling the Signs than from working at a trade. 6. The earthquake smashed nearly all the vases and breakable decorations in the homes of the people, and the Lord has enabled many of the sufferers to transfer their affections from such things to that which is more stable and enduring. This also, while it seemed a temporary grievance and annoyance, has really been a blessing. 7. Many who before were only half-hearted in the service of God have learned the infinite value of walking with God from day to day so as to be prepared for whatever may come. Naturally an earthquake of this kind stirs up the good, sets it working, and helps the people to take a bold stand against sin and to put it away. In thousands of homes in this stricken district the Lord’s name is honored and his will obeyed more than ever in the past. It seems good indeed to see the activity of the Pacific Press since the earthquake. The circulation of the Signs of the Times has gone beyond all past records. In fact the orders have come in so rapidly that it has been impossible to handle them on time. The hands have been working almost night and day, and yet several times they have told me that they had not had time to count up the orders for the Signs for two days. While I am dictating these words there are fully a score of our sisters sitting at large tables in the halls of the Pacific Press building folding the Signs of the Times. This morning the manager of the circulating department reported that the orders had gained on them until there were more than fifty thousand orders ahead of what they had been able to fill, and so an invitation was sent out to many of our sisters in the neighborhood to come in during the afternoon and help. Therefore if our good people who are doing such splendid work all through the United States should not receive their papers or their souvenir booklets, or their tracts, promptly, they will be able to excuse the workers in the Pacific Press in view of the splendid effort they are putting forth. But in behalf of the sacred interests of this, the greatest opportunity ever brought to our doors for spreading the truth, we appeal to our people not to stop work because their supplies are delayed for a few days or from fear that they will not be received. The Pacific Press is turning away every item of commercial work that would interfere with this movement, and with God’s blessing they will be able to meet the needs of the hour and supply our people with material for their work. The papers are still selling wonderfully and orders are being received for many thousands of copies of the souvenir booklet and the special tract. Watch the advertisements which appear in our papers from week to week and with all the energy and consecration which God has given you, join with us in the work. E. R. PALMER,
Sec. Gen. Conf. Pub. Dept.