Spreading the Message in India by W. L. Burgan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 11, 1913

Spreading the Message in India

By W. L. Burgan

ONE of our missionaries in far-away India has recently sent us an encouraging letter telling of the way he and another brother are spreading the gospel through a newspaper at Simla, the summer capital of the nation. The letter is from Brother H. H. Votaw, and is as follows:—

“There are no dailies in Simla, but we have access to the columns of a weekly which is published here. When Brother Wellman and I first began the effort here, the manager told us that he would gladly publish a review of our sermons, and this, too, without our having asked for the favor. He offered us a column or a column and a half in each issue. Since we hold only two public services a week and devote the rest of our time to house-to-house work, you can see that it is possible to give a very fair outline of our talks in the space given us.

“Yesterday, the editor told me that he had received many requests for the paper, those writing saying that they wished to read the reports of the sermons. He showed me one post-card from a very well-known resident asking for another copy of the paper, as she wished to send the report of the lectures of June 28 and 29 to a friend in England.

“The manager of the press told me that the chaplains of the established church seem to be boycotting him because of the favors he has shown us. He said he would continue to print what we supply him, even if the whole city refused to patronize him.”

The editor of this paper in India deserves to be praised for the position he has taken in spite of the feeling shown toward him by opponents of the truth. This letter ought to arouse our brethren in this and other countries to use the newspapers at every opportunity. There are, no doubt, many other editors who would open their columns for the printing of the gospel if the articles were supplied them.

It may be well to recall the fact that newspapers in Calcutta have printed articles dealing with our doctrines, which were written by our brethren in that large city, especially concerning the Eastern question.

An account of how anxious readers of newspapers are to learn more of the message now going to the world appeared in a very recent issue of the North Pacific Union Gleaner. The article was written by Josephine Hufford, and tells of her experience while selling magazines in the city of Spokane, Wash. A portion of the article follows:—

“One morning when about to enter an office, I heard loud and excited voices. I paused, thinking perhaps they were angry, but they were discussing the times we are living in, and asking if they had any meaning. They did not see me until I was in their midst and was saying: ‘Here is a copy of the Signs of the Times. It shows you the significance of the times in which we are now living. I am sure it will be well worth your time to read it. Only ten cents. Will you not take a copy?’ The men all looked at me as if to make sure I was not a spirit, and in the meantime three hands were stretched forth to take a magazine. They all said with one accord: ‘Who are you? What is that you have, and does it have anything to do with the Seventh-day Adventists?’ I said, ‘Yes, this is an Adventist publication.’ One said, ‘I saw an extract in the newspaper from a sermon by Elder Tait, preached at your camp-meeting. How much I should give to have heard him! He is a man who knows what he is talking about.’ I informed them that this same Elder Tait was the associate editor of this magazine. They bought three magazines and subscribed for the Signs for a year.”

This experience ought to be sufficient to inspire our workers with the thought that newspapers can be used to help make known more of the precious truth as given in our magazines and books. In other words, the reading of extracts of sermons in newspapers will lead honest hearts to inquire further into such doctrines.

W. L. BURGAN.