The Relief of the Mount Vernon Academy
By Percy T. Magan
When the effort for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” was begun, the Mount Vernon Academy had a debt of about seventeen thousand dollars. As there are not three thousand Sabbath-keepers in the Ohio Conference, the work of raising this debt rested upon comparatively few persons. The revival of the relief work is taking hold of Ohio, and a good campaign is now in progress. In the city of Columbus evening classes have been held for the study of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Those who attended this class spent the day canvassing. To some the work at first seemed hard as rock. But these learned by sweet experience that still there is “honey in the rock.” One brother states that he did not accomplish anything at first. Then in the “Manual for Canvassers” he read the following statement: “Humble, fervent prayer will do more in behalf of the circulation of our books than all the expensive embellishments of the world.” He put this instruction into practice, and sold many books. More than once this brother has seen the tears roll down the cheeks of the ones he canvassed, as he read to them those touching paragraphs about the prodigal son. One brother says that he dreaded to canvass for “Christ’s Object Lessons,” but managed to muster up enough courage to go out to sell the Life Boat. He took a copy of “Christ’s Object Lessons” with him, not expecting to do anything with it. At the end of one hour’s work he had sold three copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” but no Life Boat. Sister Ida Walters writes that some time ago she sold her quota, and then dropped the matter, thinking that her part was done, and that the Lord was waiting upon others to do their part. Afterwards she decided that this is a war from which there is no release for anybody until all the debts on our schools are paid. She went to work again, and sold twelve books. We must pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended upon us. If all will do this, it will not be long before the song of jubilee will be sung throughout our borders. P. T. MAGAN.