MISSIONARY WORK AT THE CAMP-MEETINGS.
By Stephen N. Haskell
We have no greater facilities for missionary labor than those presented at our camp-meetings. About twenty-five of these meetings will be held in our eighteen Conferences the present season, and at each there will be an attendance, upon Sunday, of hundreds, and, in some Conferences, from fifteen to twenty thousand. This will make an aggregate attendance of not less than fifty thousand people who will receive some knowledge of present truth by this means alone; and as many of them will hear for the first time, impressions made upon their minds will have much to do in the final decision with reference to it. Last year, over one hundred subscribers for our periodicals were obtained, and many thousand pages of tracts were distributed by our brethren at each of the few camp-meetings I attended, although in most cases they were unprepared to engage in this work successfully, not having a supply of sample copies of our periodicals, etc. This effort was an experiment, but our expectations were more than met. Judging from the then present appearances, it was a success. The final result, the Judgment alone will reveal. This year similar efforts should be put forth with more matured plans, and in a more systematic manner. No camp-meeting should fail of thus making a proper effort to get the light before the people. The most favorable time to do this is immediately after the close of a discourse, when the minds of the people are deeply impressed with the subject presented. If an interest has been aroused, individuals will read a tract upon the subject if it is not too lengthy. The book-stand should stand near the main entrance, and be furnished with publications to sell at the regular price. In addition to this, proper persons, men and women, should take their places among the congregation, with a suitable supply of our smallest tracts, and watch the effect of the preaching upon the people. At the close of the service, the minister should state that tracts upon the subject presented will be furnished on the ground to those wishing them, also if any desire larger and more extensive publications they can obtain them at the book-stand. We think one or two kinds of tracts treating directly upon the subject presented are better to use at the close of each discourse than more. Those presenting them should be courteous, kind, obliging, and extremely careful not to give offense. CANVASSING FOR OUR PERIODICALS
presents a wide field of usefulness at our camp-meetings. This should not be left to be done promiscuously, without any order; but a special, well-directed effort should be put forth Sundays, and other days when there is a good attendance. A sufficient supply of each of our periodicals for sample copies, and of premiums with which to supply subscribers, should be on the ground. At a proper time, instructions should be given, and such arrangements made that all can work in harmony. Individuals should be appointed to make a specialty of canvassing, both ladies and gentlemen, for each of our periodicals; the Signs, Review, Instructor, Good Health, College Record; also the Tidende and Herald if there is an attendance of those speaking the Scandinavian languages. These periodicals can be offered at the following prices, to new subscribers at these meetings: The REVIEW AND HERALD, or Signs of the Times, four months, 50 cts. The REVIEW AND HERALD one year with Way of Life, $2 00; without Way of Life $1 50; The Signs of the Times with Way of Life $1 50; without Way of Life, $1 25. The Youth's Instructor, monthly, with Child's Poems, 50 cts.; without Child's Poems, 25 cts. Youth's Instructor, weekly, with Child's Poems, 75 cts.; without premium, 50 cts. Good Health with Household Manual, $1.00; without the Manual, 60 cts. The College Record, a quarterly, 10 cts. The Tidende or Harold with Way of Life, $1.00; without Way of Life, 60 cts. These offers are made to those east of the Rocky Mountains, and especially for those who have never subscribed for these periodicals before, and whose subscriptions are obtained at the camp-meetings. We think children and youth can do better than others with the Instructor. Children who could not write the address of subscribers themselves, canvassed with success at three camp-meetings last year. There should be not less than one thousand subscribers obtained for each of our periodicals at the camp-meetings this season. This can be done if taken hold of with energy. This work should not be left wholly to canvassers; all should be interested in it, but they should make it a specialty, and should be on the alert continually. The minister from the stand should call attention to the fact that canvassers for these periodicals are on the ground, and during intermissions, they should attend to this work. Never become discouraged, or answer unkindly if rudely repulsed, but go to the next person with as much courage, and as courteously as though you were successful the first time. We hope every camp-meeting held in 1879 will improve this opportunity of securing readers to our periodicals. It is the Spirit of God, and his providence, that has given us access to the people; and shall we not take advantage of it? All should realize that the salvation of many precious souls who attend these meetings may be hanging in the balance, and that the course pursued by our brethren will have much to do in turning the scale. Every tent company should show special attention to strangers who may come. If they are weary, invite them to rest in your tent. At one camp-meeting last year, the remark was often heard, “How kind these people are! I believe they are Christians.” This is the way it should be. The object of these large gatherings is not only that we may seek God ourselves, but that we may get the truth before others in an acceptable manner. The Saviour took his disciples from place to place to instruct them. Others listened to their instruction, and in this manner the seed was sown which bore fruit on the day of Pentecost. We are now preparing the way for the outpouring of the Spirit of God in the closing scenes of this world's history. May God give us wisdom to lay out our plans wisely, to work to the point; and finally, may we hear it said, “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
S. N. HASKELL.