ENCOURAGING WORDS by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 13, 1880

ENCOURAGING WORDS.

By Editor

The following is from Mrs. M. L. Priest, the secretary of the oldest V. M. society in the country; has been its secretary ever since its organization in June 1869. Although a private letter she will pardon the liberty we take in making it public. This society takes 300 copies of the SIGNS, a club of each of our periodicals in the different languages.

“When the sample copy of the SIGNS came to hand, I felt like congratulating the friends at the office in the successful attempt to improve the appearance of our valuable pioneer paper. I think now with the help of God in preparing articles and distributing the precious reading matter,

it will be a success. Certainly the appearance of the paper is all that we can ask. We have decided to take the 12-page edition, believing the interesting matter contained in the extra four pages is well worth the difference in price. I think the real workers in our society were never of better courage than now. We have received quite a number of very interesting letters from those to whom we have sent papers the past quarter, some sending us names of friends to whom they wish the paper and tracts sent, and yet I am satisfied that had we a closer connection with Heaven and were we more deeply imbued with the spirit of this message, God would bless our efforts to a greater degree.

“I believe the Lord is leading out in this work, and it will finally triumph. My health has improved, God heard and answered prayer in my behalf; I am not able to do that which requires much strength, but thank God I can write and send out reading matter. I think I never esteemed it such a privilege to have a part in this missionary work, as I have the past winter.”

Another, a director in Ohio, writes:—

“I am in harmony with your effort to push the SIGNS. I have visited during the last quarter all the small companies in my district, five in number, and have succeeded in obtaining in each company a club of ten, besides individual subscribers.

“The district where I labor is new and churches very small, but I find no trouble in raising the clubs and with a proper effort I believe nearly every company of Sabbath keepers would take at least a club of ten. I shall continue to work in all parts of the missionary cause; and may God bless you in your efforts.”