“A Million Copies;” “A Hundred Thousand Dollars;” “It Could Easily Be Done”
THE above phrases are quoted from a personal letter just received from Elder A. G. Daniells. It is so filled with the spirit of hope and courage, and contains such valuable suggestions concerning the Harvest Ingathering campaign, that we publish the letter in full:— “QUISSAC, FRANCE, Aug. 23, 1913. “DEAR BROTHER PALMER: While spending a few days at our sanitarium at Gland, the first of this week, I received your letters written July 27 and 31, also the copies of the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW and the Washington Post you so kindly sent me. It was most thoughtful of you to remember me in this way. “As I had no public meetings nor committee work on hand that day, I had a good time with the REVIEW. First of all, I went through the entire list of illustrations, then I read the paper from beginning to end. Somehow it seemed exceedingly good to me. Possibly my surroundings may have had some influence on my mind. I was a long way from my home, and the REVIEW was a long way from its home. It seemed to me like sitting down for a visit with a dear old friend. “Take it all in all, I like this number very much. The first page of the cover is surely appropriate and very suggestive. It is quiet, expressive, and solemn in appearance. The last page is fine. The picture and the poem together touch a sympathetic cord in one's heart. “I feel that good judgment is shown in both the selection and arrangement of the illustrations. What a fine group that is illustrating the Mission Dispensary Work! The railway train speeding across the continent, and the steamship pushing its way through the ocean, make a suggestive combination,—the proclamation of the message by land and sea. I like the group in the African Missions department. What a nice picture of Elder Babcock's family! The Children's Page is fine. “By the way, the Chinese sister, sitting, in the illustration on page 25, is here attending our camp-meeting in France. Her name is Miss Sim. She speaks good English and is a real nice young woman, a credit to our work in Singapore. I have had a number of very pleasant interviews with her. She is traveling companion with a rich Chinese family from Singapore, who are visiting Europe. While they are spending a few days in Lyons, France, she is attending our meeting. “As to the subject-matter, I may say that to me it is deeply interesting, and I believe it will appeal to the public, so much of it comes fresh and direct from the fields where workers are doing things. But that which impressed me more deeply than anything else while going through this paper was the vast extent of territory represented, and the broad scope of work being done. “This number of our good old REVIEW will bear splendid testimony to thousands of people regarding the presence in this world of God's last message to men. It tells where the message is being proclaimed, and of the glorious victories it is winning in the hearts of the heathen. It sounds the note of present and complete victory over the flesh through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. “How I wish all our people in America might be led fully to appreciate this most excellent document! To me, where I am now, facing this world problem of ours, this missionary number of the REVIEW seems to afford the opportunity of a lifetime to give our work a great, strong push forward. I wish I could tell all our people personally what a great opportunity this gives them to render most effectual service to this glorious cause. “First of all, it enables us to tell the world what we want them to know, and what thousands of them will be blessed in hearing, about God's message and work in the earth. Surely it is the providence of God that has led us to get out a Harvest Ingathering number each year. In what other way could we bear such a sweet, touching testimony to the world of what the Lord is doing everywhere by his message for this time? Our people should take this number with glad hearts, and place it in the hands of thousands of their neighbors. Christians, as well as the people of the world, need this testimony, and in this form they will receive it. So much having been done to produce such a good paper, no pains should be spared to give it a wide circulation. How I wish the pulse of our people might be made to beat so high and so fast as to lead them quickly to thrust forth a million copies! It could easily be done. All that is needed is the effort. “And then the added blessing of a large ingathering of means for foreign missions should stimulate all to great activity. A million copies put out, and a hundred thousand dollars brought in! Is that too much to suggest? Not in view of the situation we face. Our message is for the last generation, seventy years of which are already gone. Our work is for the people now living. Our unfinished work! That is all that stands between us and the end. Surely these conditions call for great effort. And may it be made now. “And now, wishing you all blessing and success from the Lord, and again thanking you for the letters and papers, I am, “Your sincere friend and brother,