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Urges Us to Use Newspapers

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 9.

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Urges Us to Use Newspapers

By Walter L. Burgan

In a recent letter to the Southern Publishing Association, which has been forwarded to the Press Bureau of the General Conference, a woman in Wisconsin makes a strong appeal for our ministers to spread the precious truths our denomination teaches, through the secular newspapers. The writer of the letter, who resides in the city of Superior, says:—
“I am becoming interested in the subject of the true Christian Sabbath day. I have a tract before me called ‘The Image of the Beast and Its Works.’ Now, if you know you are right, why don’t you put articles in the newspapers to enlighten the world and prove to all Christianity that you are right?”
“I am positive there isn’t one keeping Sunday but thinks he is right, and is sincere in his belief. Now, if such is wrong, it is your duty to write articles and inform him that he is wrong. The Bible says to shout the truth from the housetops, and I think as little is said about the Adventist as any religion there is. In all my life I have never seen printed a sermon by an Adventist minister. Why don’t you do this?”
“It looks as if you want to keep the truth to yourselves. O, please write articles, and insert them in all the public papers! Get the message before the public, so they will know about it. I want to do all I can, for I know hardly any one knows it.”
This good sister has struck the right note when she urges us to put articles in the newspapers to enlighten the world. Brethren and sisters in various places throughout the United States and Canada have met with excellent success in their efforts to bring the progress of our denomination and the doctrines we hold before the world through their home newspapers, but quite a number are still letting opportunities to use this powerful medium slip by them.
The views of editors in different cities toward the great fundamental principles we hold are varied, as shown in letters that have come from brethren, in which they describe their experiences with these men of authority in newspaper offices.
In a letter from a brother in Oregon, in which he enclosed a clipping of a report dealing with Seventh-day Adventists, he writes: “When I handed the editor this report, he said: ‘I shall be only too glad to give space to anything you may wish to have published in this line. Come again.’” The report dealt with the remonstrance the brethren of that church passed against the Johnston Sunday Bill, now before the United States Congress.
Similar reports have been published in twenty-nine States, according to clippings that have been sent to the Press Bureau.
The report in a paper in Claremont, N. H., began in this way: “Comparatively few are aware that a new church organization has been formed in Claremont recently. Growing out of the tent-meetings held last summer, a new local church has sprung up, of the Seventh-day Adventist faith, and meetings are now being held every Saturday afternoon in Hunton Block.”
The report told the number of charter members in the church; the manner in which our evangelists arouse interest in a community and then leave the organization in charge of local elders was explained; and there was an interesting account of the church’s action in passing resolutions remonstrating against proposed Sunday legislation in Congress. The report concluded with some pointed statements on how our denomination stands regarding the observance of Sunday. This report was nearly a column long, and was the leading article in the paper, thus showing that the editor felt that this was the most important piece of news in his paper. It also indicates that editors do attach importance to reports coming from our ranks, and will open their columns to us, if we but furnish the news.
Our brethren should ever remember that the newspaper is the only thing that can carry the truth with it that goes into every home. Newspapers can be used as a powerful agency in breaking down prejudice, for untold numbers will read our views in print, when they would not attend services to hear the word spoken.
WALTER L. BURGAN.