THE readers of the REVIEW have already been made acquainted with the fact that Brother A. D. Gilbert, who for seven years has had charge of the periodical work in England, has been invited by the Pacific Press to devote a few months to the circulation of The Signs of the Times in the United States. Brother Gilbert attended the last General Conference, and then entered with much earnestness upon his work. A letter just received from him gives an interesting account of how he is going from one church to another, and enlisting the members in some definite work with our periodicals. In some instances persons are engaged to devote their entire time to the sale of periodicals from house to house. In the churches the members are called together, and an effort is made to enlist every person in the church in the good work. Brother Gilbert goes from house to house with those whom he endeavors to instruct, and by example as well as by precept helps them to succeed.
The following extract from a letter recently received from Brother H. H. Hall, manager of the Circulating Department of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, will be of interest to all:—
“As a result of Brother Gilbert’s work in San José, their club of papers has been raised from eighteen to two hundred. It has not simply been raised to this number for a short time; for the people are out selling the papers, and the club is continually coming up. Some of their young people are having an excellent experience. Brother Gilbert has also worked some time in San Francisco, and their club has been raised about one hundred per cent. Here in Oakland a large number of individuals are using more papers than for many months. Brother Gilbert stopped at two places on his way north, and this morning we have orders from two societies amounting to nearly four hundred papers. The secretary of Western Oregon says that he went out with the workers, and they had a most excellent time selling the paper from house to house. They have planned to visit each house in the city where their camp-meeting is about to be held, and are providing themselves with The Signs of the Times and The Pacific Health Journal as an introductory card. We feel to praise the Lord for the results thus far seen, and believe we have really entered upon a successful, inexpensive way of reaching the people.”
Brother Gilbert is about to engage in similar work in Wisconsin, and expects to visit several other States before returning20to England. We trust that our people will improve this opportunity for learning how to handle our papers. Let us all pray that the Lord will inspire his people throughout the wide field to take hold of this work; and then, dear brethren and sisters, while you pray, resolve with God’s help to do a little yourself. The work is so simple and easy that every child of God can engage in it successfully.