Tract and Missionary Work in Behalf of Foreign Missions
By E. R. Palmer
Our pioneer missionary papers have had no inconsiderable part in opening up the mission fields which we now occupy. One of the most interesting items in the work of the International Tract Society was to secure names and addresses from foreign lands, and send out the Signs of the Times and other periodicals, accompanied by correspondence. These missionary efforts, conducted by our brethren and sisters in the churches, under the direction of the International Tract Society, awakened interests; and, as people began to accept the truth, calls were sent to America for missionaries. This method of work is just as effective today as it was in past years. An interesting missionary effort of this kind has recently come to our notice. When the managers of the Signs of the Times decided to issue a gospel series of twenty-six numbers, in which present truth would be presented in its natural, connected order, the Tract and Missionary Society at South Lancaster, Mass., suggested to the officers of the Atlantic Union Conference that a club of this series be sent to our missionaries in the Philippine Islands for distribution among the district-school teachers, many of whom are Americans. It seems very natural that such an enterprising suggestion should come from that church, where the first tract and missionary society was organized, and from which so many thousands of papers have been sent to foreign lands. There are still in that church some of the old members who have seen the blessed fruits of past efforts, and are quick to discern future possibilities. Finally, the General Conference, and the Atlantic and Pacific Union Conferences united in supplying to the missionaries in the Philippines a club of five hundred copies of the special series of the Signs. The following paragraphs from a letter dated July 14, 1907, from Elder McElhany, who has charge of the work in the Philippines, and addressed to the manager of the Pacific Press, will explain how they have appreciated the papers, and how they have been used:— Your very much appreciated letter was received in due time, and was read and reread with the deepest interest and thankfulness. I also had received correspondence from Elder Farnsworth, telling me of the action that had been taken to help forward the work in this needy field. I might say that since we have been in this field, nothing that has been done to help onward the work has brought so much courage and thankfulness to us as this splendid gift. This club of five hundred Signs increases our efficiency more than five hundred per cent. We are deeply grateful to all who have helped. We had long been praying that the Lord would provide us with increased facilities, and these papers came as an answer to our prayers. As for this special series of the Signs, I must say that I believe it is the very strongest factor in spreading the message that has ever been undertaken with our literature. Every number is splendid. The circulation of these papers appeals to me as the very best means of preaching the truth to thousands. I must tell you something of the circumstances under which we sent out these papers. We received the first lot of papers just before the summer vacation drew to a close. Many of the teachers had resigned and gone home to the States; most of those remaining had been transferred to new stations, and many new teachers were arriving. We had a directory of the teachers, but of course all these changes rendered that directory out of date. As there was nothing else to do, I took it and gathered out names enough to make up a list. To make up the full number it was necessary to use some Filipino names, as there were not American teachers enough on this list to fill out the number. You will notice some very interesting letters from some of these Filipino teachers. The following are letters received from teachers in the Philippine Islands in response to the first papers and letters sent to them by Brother McElhany:— DEAR SIR: I want to thank you for a copy of my old friend, the Signs of the Times. Years ago it visited my father's home, and in my manhood it has occasionally come into my home to bring consolation and to inspire me. I promise to read carefully the copies you send, and trust to profit thereby.
Sincerely,
JNO. H. MANNING BUTLER,
Supervising Teacher. DEAR SIR: I received your letter and one copy of the Signs of the Times, and I read many interesting things in this copy, especially the Japanese question, The Hague Conference of Peace, too. Your plan to send me this paper is giving me great pleasure because in this paper there are many important things to be read, like the Bible and its teachings; besides that, you are not compelling me to pay for the subscription of it, so I can't express my thanks to you, but I hope that God will bless your enterprise as educator of the people.
Very respectfully,
FRANCISCO ROSARIO. DEAR SIR: I have received yours and two of the numbers of the Signs of the Times, and feel very much interested to receive them. I have passed them already to my friends who can read English.
Truly yours,
ANASTACIO ABAD. DEAR FRIEND: I received a copy of the Signs of the Times which you sent me on the seventeenth of this month. I was very pleased to receive this good paper; therefore I give you my many thanks for it. I am very much interested in reading it, and so are my friends to whom I have given it.
Respectfully,
CRESCENCIANA CASTENEDA. DEAR FRIEND: Your letter of June 7 with Series No. 1 and 2 of the Signs of the Times came to hand on the last mail, June 30, so I am answering you on the next going mail.
I have read the first issue, and the matters discussed therein are to me of real interest, and I shall be pleased to pass it on to my friends. This paper, especially in its Bible department, meets one of our needs—the reading and study of the Bible, of which we were deprived for the last three hundred years.
It might be a further indication of my interest in your paper to say that an association is being organized by the teachers of the province, and one of the features to be pursued by it is the reading of magazines for the purpose of cultivating the habit of reading among its members. Your paper will be given place in our reading club.
I very much thank you for your liberal offer and kindness, and awaiting for the succeeding numbers of the Signs of the Times, I remain,
Faithfully yours,
INOCENCIO ELAYDA. DEAR SIR: Just a line to acknowledge yours of the 17th inst., and to thank you for the paper, which arrived duly. I have known of the paper for some years, as my home formerly was at Palo Alto, Cal., but have always thought it a little wild in its speculations and prophecies. However, the principal writers show a great deal of Biblical scholarship, for which I respect them, while holding7views somewhat contrary to theirs, perhaps.
We are indeed in a great history-making epoch, and perhaps those skilled in interpretation can plainly read the “signs of the times.” I shall be glad to avail myself for a time of your kind offer to send the paper.
Yours very cordially,
H. C. THEODALD. Thus a grand work has been begun for the teachers in the Philippines. Our missionaries there are anxious that this work shall be continued so that these teachers may have the next series, containing the “Bible Studies for Winter Evenings.” If we were to send this special series, including the great Missions number, it would cost ten dollars a week for five hundred copies, or two hundred and fifty dollars for the club of five hundred for six months. Then there are many other mission fields where clubs of twenty-five, fifty, or a hundred might be sent at small expense. Here is a great opportunity for missionary work this winter. We would suggest that our conferences and missionary societies make special note of this opportunity, and lay liberal plans for sending our pioneer periodicals out into foreign lands. Such efforts as these are wonderfully inspiring and helpful to students in our training-schools, and to our young people in their societies. Any person or society interested in sending papers to our foreign missions should correspond with the managers of the Signs of the Times, or with the writer, at Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., and information will be given, and an opportunity made for clubs of any size to be sent to foreign fields where they will be greatly appreciated.