What We Must See in the South by William A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 26, 1907

What We Must See in the South

By William A. Spicer

Now is the time to push into the towns and cities of the South with this advent message. I wish every believer might have had the view we have had set before us at every camp-meeting in the South—the public coming out night after night and filling the tent with interested listeners. Everywhere it was the same.

All through these southern towns the message must go. Somehow more help must be turned in this direction. Think of it. The meeting is just closing in Georgia, in the suburbs of Atlanta. The public interest demands the continuance of the meetings. But the only minister active in the evangelistic field in Georgia is Elder G. W. Wells, the president of the conference. And Georgia is the Empire State of the South, with a population exceeding that of Wisconsin, or Minnesota, or Nebraska, or California. All about in the State are fine cities—unworked and unentered. Where the message has been preached, it has borne fruit. Surely these great and enterprising and fruitful fields must not long continue so undermanned.

The little bands of canvassers are increasing in these States, and the records from month to month show that quite generally the sales in these fields have led the list. Where the literature is distributed in this way, the field is being prepared for the sustained evangelistic effort. It seems that from the larger staff of laborers in other parts must be drawn a large number of experienced workers who shall join our brethren in the South in proclaiming the truth in these cities and towns.

County after county, and now State after State, are prohibiting the liquor traffic. This country has never witnessed such an uprising for temperance reform as that which is now sweeping through the South. A public engaged in such practical and thorough reformatory work is the public among which the principles of this advent message must find many adherents.

Our brethren are doing their utmost to meet the situation, but they are such a little band in every State, while the opportunities are so magnificently large and inviting. Truly, now is the time to press into the cities and towns of the South. Pray for more canvassers to enter with the literature, and for more public laborers to join in preaching the message. We must see this worked out somehow, for no one can read the signals of God's providences without seeing that there must be some way of distributing evangelistic effort to bring larger forces into action in the South. W. A. S.