Closing the Campaign for “Christ’s Object Lessons”
By George Ide Butler
My deep interest in the present campaign for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” leads me to contribute an article on that subject to the REVIEW. To be sure, I can hardly hope to add anything of importance to what has been so well said on that subject. I can, however, at least show my interest in it. With deepest interest I have watched this matter ever since Sister White made her generous proposal to dedicate this precious book to the relief of the schools. I have been exceedingly gratified to see the generous spirit with which our publishing institutions have responded to this noble offer of the author to give this valuable book to the cause of education. I have greatly admired the general plan adopted by our people in order to secure a vast circulation of this most estimable volume. The success attending this effort thus far has indeed been most gratifying, but the desired end is not yet reached. While I have not overstated the general interest I have felt in the past, yet I can truly say that since I have begun—at a comparatively late date—to endeavor to fill our quota in the great Southern field, covered by the Southern Union Conference, of which I am president, and have earnestly sought to press this matter in the union conference, and especially in my home conference of Florida, I have thus been brought into closer touch with this movement, and have felt a still more intense interest in its success. Through a combination of difficulties, we did not get fairly started until mid-summer, and in some conferences not until mid-autumn, when the camp-meetings were held, yet great advancement has been made already. Because of local demands we shall not be able to push the effort for “Christ’s Object Lessons” in the Southern field after the close of the General Conference, or after May first. We must then make a mighty effort to extend the circulation of our periodicals all through the Southern field. This is an absolute necessity of our situation, for the further upbuilding of the cause in the South, as well as for the pecuniary needs of our weak publishing association. We shall make, however, a vigorous effort to dispose of our full quota before May 1. To the best of my knowledge, this date is about the same as that which is expected to terminate the general canvass throughout the field. Doubtless, these blessed books will continue to be sold, more or less, till the end of time. Why?—Because of the intrinsic value of the book itself. It meets a want of Christians in all the world, and ever will till probation closes, and death is swallowed up in victory. All persons interested in Christ and his teachings must be interested in his incomparable object-lessons, and the wondrous parables which he spoke. The most wonderful lessons in all his precious gospel were taught in these beautiful figures of speech. Some of them are so simple that a child may comprehend them. Others are so deep that the meaning is hard for the common mind to grasp. They need to be elucidated to the ordinary reader. Yea, they are so deeply spiritual that the cold-hearted, selfish professor fails to comprehend their significance.20 I venture the assertion, without fear of successful contradiction, that there is not a volume extant in all the productions of the human mind that comes anywhere near reaching the clear, beautiful, luminous explanations given through the author, of these wondrous parables given by him of whom it was said, “Never man spake like this man.” These expositions are simply marvelous in their clearness. I have been a Bible student for fifty years, and have read and reread with delight these parables, and carefully pondered their meaning. I have often studied for hours the meaning of some of them, and failed to comprehend their full import. But in reading “Christ’s Object Lessons,” beautiful and precious thoughts were brought to light, and my soul was thrilled with the beauty and intrinsic excellence of the deep spiritual lessons expressed. Of all the precious books of the author, there is none better than “Christ’s Object Lessons” to remove prejudice concerning her and her work. There is no better answer to the wretched innuendos and barefaced slanders of some of her detractors than a copy of this volume. The well-known fact that many ministers of various denominations have given an unqualified indorsement of the merits of this book, in spite of the well-known connection of the author with unpopular Seventh-day Adventism, is the strongest kind of evidence of the intrinsic value of the book. This glance at the value of “Christ’s Object Lessons” comes far short of the reality. But other considerations must be noticed. How fit is such a volume for the noble purpose of lifting our precious schools out of the bondage of debt! Every intelligent Seventh-day Adventist knows that the prosperity of our institutions of learning is the backbone of our denomination, and the great factor in the future success of our message. The great debts that have been incurred in bringing our schools into existence, and in keeping them running, are a clog upon their progress. With the calls for means to carry forward our work, and establish it in new fields, and thus enable the precious rays of light to penetrate the inky darkness of ignorance and superstition, together with the task of paying off the great indebtedness loading down our schools, the burden becomes heavy indeed. When properly considered, what a precious privilege it is for the rank and file of our people to come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and by canvassing for this grand book be the means of lifting this incubus entirely off our precious institutions of learning, thus greatly assisting them in their noble work. Will not our people sense at once the importance of fully completing this great canvass? What do we think of a house well advanced, but left unsightly and unfinished?—It is a disgrace to its owner and architect. What of a noble movement, left incomplete, being nearly a success, but after all only a failure? How many sighs and sorrows result! Failures of final success never exhilarate, but corrode and sadden. Well begun, advanced to almost the point of consummation—but a failure at last! “Ye did run well; who did hinder you?” So it will be with many a Christian who mourns, and wails, and weeps, but has to groan, “Lost at last!” Is this blessed, glorious scheme, begotten in sacrifice, and carried on by the generosity of the lovers of this cause, at last to fail of a successful consummation because of the lack of earnestness of our people? If so, it will be a great grief to many hearts. How much better to sense the importance of the hour, dedicate ourselves once more to God, pray mightily for the help of his grace, buckle on the armor, resolving with full purpose of soul that we will all fill our quotas, and help our churches and conferences to complete the important canvass which is to give final relief to all our schools. How much happier shall we all feel, and what courage it will beget for new and important work! Instead of the sad sense of failure and disappointment, a glorious thrill of success and victory will fill our souls. Brethren and sisters throughout the great American field, let us do rapid and lively work before the close of the next General Conference, and make it a memorable epoch in the history of this work, so that we can shout the song of victory all along the line. This result I long to see. It will gladden the heart of every lover of this cause. This result can be accomplished easily if all will enter upon it in earnest. No mortal mind can realize the important consequences to the cause of truth of such a consummation.