p. 14 | The Tract Movement

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1903

The Tract Movement

Elder R. A. Underwood is vigorously stirring up the easy, sleepy nests wherever he finds them in Pennsylvania. If space would permit, we would publish his last two letters in full. He says: “I am sure all will be pleased with the first tract, ‘We Would See Jesus.’ It is pointed, concise, and clear; and it breathes an excellent spirit that cannot offend any one. To show you that we are in harmony with the tract movement, I inclose a circular letter which I sent to all our churches and workers at the close of the week of prayer. I have heard from several churches that have entered into the plan, not for a spasmodic effort, I hope, but for a steady, long pull all together. I hope you will be as successful in the selection of the other three tracts that follow. We have had many books and some tracts, not all of which were the best. Some of the old tracts on the Sabbath question, such as ‘Elihu on the Sabbath,’ and some others I might name, have never been surpassed. Let us have a few of these little ‘mighty tracts,’ and less in number.”

Speaking of his own experience as a gospel minister in circulating literature, Elder Underwood says: “When I started out to preach this message, I expected to sell each year from two hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars’ worth of our tracts and pamphlets. We had no bound books then. I expected that the tracts I disposed of (and I am sure they did) would do more good than all my preaching. Every family that accepted the truth had a good supply, and they used them. I expected to sell and give away (but I sold most of them) from seventy-five cents to three dollars’ worth of tracts and pamphlets at each meeting that I held among those not of our faith. God blessed that kind of ministry, and he will do it again. I always had my pockets full of tracts as I visited from house to house, and always left something when I went from the family visited.”