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The Power of Pennies

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 28, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 13.

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The Power of Pennies

TRULY all can have a part in giving this message to the world. Even children may help effectually. The little children of the employees of our Nashville publishing house, averaging from five to ten years of age, banded themselves together as a children's missionary society. Immediately the important question of how to obtain funds arose. As always, “where there is a will, there is a way.” One little girl saved the money otherwise spent for candy, etc., and invested this in ten copies of the Watchman. They were readily sold, and the profit was used to secure more copies. One group kept busy making a quilt, which was promptly purchased by a good sister, and the proceeds turned into the treasury. Still others sold pretty picture-postals. And so they worked in the Master's cause, putting to good use the time otherwise frittered away after school.
In a few days they gathered a little sum of nickels and pennies. A council was held, prayer was offered, and they took up at once the question of circulating literature bearing the message. What to use and where to place it so that it would reach the largest number of persons was the burden of their discussion. They had raised $2.34, and having learned how copies of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” and “Great Controversy” were being sent to every company in the United States army, about fifteen hundred in all, and that this work was being carried forward by voluntary contributions, they decided to use their money in that way.
The writer was much impressed with the earnestness and loyal consecration manifested by the little ones, and with their deep concern about these men who are separated from Christian influences. The money was placed in the writer's hands for the purpose mentioned, and the desired literature was purchased at once and sent on its mission.
Some time after this little incident, the following letter was received from the first sergeant of one of the companies:—
“DEAR FRIEND AND COMRADE: I am in receipt of your kind letter and the book entitled ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,’ and must say, in addition to my abundant thanks, that it is one of the most finished and interesting books on the interpretations of the Bible that has ever fallen into my hands. Words can not express the great pleasure and the many good thoughts its pages have imparted and revealed to me.
“My wife and family share equally in my enthusiasm, likewise all the members of the company; and all have expressed the wish that they could thank you in person, especially as the gift was tendered by a comrade and ex-soldier. If other good books on religious subjects and Bible thoughts could find their way into the soldiers' libraries, I feel sure that it would tend to elevate the rank and file more than the books that usually fill the shelves of the company reading-room. Your gift has made me do some profound thinking, and I intend to make a thorough study of it. Again, we all wish to tender our sincere thanks and appreciation for the kind thoughts, desires, and motives you had in remembering your one-time comrades. Your gift will find a welcome and a conspicuous place in our library, and will always be prized as the company's chief possession. I wish also to extend my personal thanks as a soldier of twenty-five years' service, and you can rest assured that your address will remain fresh in my memory, and that, in all probability, I shall write you again after making a more thorough study of this splendid book.
“Trusting that the work you are following will bring forth more good results in and out of the army, I beg to remain,
“Your sincere friend and comrade,
“First Sergeant, Company H, — U. S. Infantry.”
Does it pay, mothers, to teach our children to be self-sacrificing missionaries for the truth, like these little ones? The Lord can use us all if we will offer ourselves to him to be used.
We appeal to all our children, and to the older ones, too, the world over, to assist in sending out these two good books to American soldiers stationed in the Philippines, Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico, and China, as well as here in the United States. Three thousand books are needed, requiring over five hundred dollars' postage. Stamps, therefore, as well as pennies, will be exceedingly welcome. Remember the missionary ship “Pitcairn” was built with pennies.
Send all the funds to the treasurer, Southern Publishing Association, 2123 Twenty-fourth Ave., N., Nashville, Tenn., with whom we have a regular “military mission account.” Nearly two hundred books have been sent out to the service.
Send four cents in stamps for a little tract, “A Soldier's Appeal,” descriptive of military life, and presenting a practicable plan, approved by the General Conference, by which the entire military service may have the opportunity of hearing the message.
Send for this interesting tract to-day. It will be well worth the two postage-stamps asked. Address 2123 Twenty-fourth Ave., N., Nashville, Tenn.
Formerly Sergeant, Hospital Corps, U. S. Army.