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An Open Letter

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 14.

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An Open Letter

By Charles H. Jones

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL.,
March 14, 1907.
To All of Like Precious Faith:
Dear Brethren and Sisters,—
The past year has been an eventful one, and 1907 promises to be even more so. Calamities are multiplying on land and sea, earthquakes continue in divers places, capital and labor are still at war, our large cities are fast becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah, nations are arming for the last great struggle, and everything goes to show that we are nearing the end.
On the other hand, the Lord has set his hand to the work of giving his last message of mercy to the world. Rapidly he is preparing the harvest-field; rapidly, also, he is selecting and sending forth laborers into the harvest. In his good providence he has given the world prosperous times so that his people may have favorable opportunity just now to get the printed page before the people, and his Spirit is calling for laborers, and hundreds and hundreds of devoted workers are responding to the call.
During 1906 the sale of our publications increased about one third. Never before in the history of our work have agents sold so many books each; and this onward movement is not confined to canvassing agents. The word has gone out to all the people, inviting them at this eleventh hour to work in the vineyard. The motto has been, “Something for each one to do.”
Since the beginning of the present year many reports have come to us from conference laborers, stating that never before in their experience have they observed such a readiness on the part of the people to take hold and work. Men and women of mature years are volunteering to give their entire time to the circulation of our literature. Scores are voluntarily offering themselves where a few years ago recruits were secured with the greatest difficulty. This is one of the greatest evidences we have that the Lord is about to do a mighty work, and enlighten the earth with his glory.
The Lord has placed upon the Seventh-day Adventists the responsibility of giving the last warning message to the world, and now he is giving the spirit of labor. But we are often troubled as to what we should select to place in the hands of our friends and neighbors which will give them the most comprehensive view possible of the third angel’s message. The need of such a means is keenly felt by our brethren and sisters everywhere.
In response to this demand we have decided to publish a special series of the Signs of the Times. Beginning May 1, we will issue a series of twenty-six special numbers, in which the truth will be taken up in about the same general order as is followed by our ministers in tent-meetings. These subjects will be well illustrated, supplemented by Bible readings, and presented in such a thorough, systematic, progressive way that they can not fail to interest and convince the honest in heart, and bring them to a saving knowledge of the truth.
The subscription price for the series will be as follows: The 26 Special Numbers, post-paid, 75 cents; five or more copies to one address, each 50 cents.
Should you want to send the paper for one year, which would include these 26 special numbers, also the special Missions number to be published in November, the price would be as follows: Single subscriptions, one year, post-paid, $1.50; four or more to single names and addresses, if sent by one person, each $1.
We are asking our people—every one of them, from the Atlantic to the Pacific—to subscribe for two, five, ten, fifty, or even one hundred copies each, of this series, and in a systematic way sell, give away, loan, or mail these papers to their friends and neighbors. Thus we hope to introduce a national movement which will mean the placing of at least one hundred thousand copies of the Signs of the Times each week in the homes of the people.
The methods by which this work may be carried on are so varied that every one, from the oldest to the youngest, can have some little opportunity to work:—
1. There are hundreds of our people who are so situated that they can give either the whole of their time or one, two, or three days a week to this work as agents. What a grand thing it would be for any one who can spare the time to take the responsibility of putting this series of papers in all the homes of a certain town or district! Many who have longed to do something effective for the Master, but who have not been able to leave home, or who have not the talent to preach the gospel, can by this means put a complete series of sermons on the third angel’s message into many homes. By selling the papers at regular prices as agents, the work can be made nearly, if not wholly, self-supporting.
2. There are thousands of busy people who feel that they can not spare much time for the work, but who can select one or two evenings of each week, or Saturday night of each week, for selling, loaning, or giving away ten papers. It would not require a great effort to sell that number. If given away or loaned, the cost to the giver would not be great, and who knows what blessings might follow such a systematic effort?
3. There are others, yes, great numbers of them, who have felt a keen burden of soul for certain intimate friends and neighbors. Why not take two, three, five, or ten copies of this series of the Signs, and undertake to get the truthvery fully before these friends and relatives during the six months covered by this series? This will afford us a wonderful opportunity for doing what we have so many times longed to do.
4. There are many people who have friends far away who would like to have these papers mailed directly from the Signs of the Times office. By following up this work with tactful, Christian correspondence, we may be the means under God of saving many.
5. There are also hundreds of invalids, members of the great “shut-in” society, upon whom God has permitted the hand of affliction to rest. These dear children of God have often felt that their hands were tied, that they could do nothing for the Master; but here is an opportunity. They can mail a few of these papers each week to relatives or friends in whom they are particularly interested. One dear sister who was confined to her bed secured the assistance of young people each week, and sent out regularly one hundred copies of the Signs of the Times. In this way, at the time of her death she had the satisfaction of knowing definitely that at least one hundred persons had accepted the truth through the papers which she sent, and the letters accompanying them.
The expense will not be heavy; and the results will be great. One brother whose attention was called to this plan stated that he wanted seventy-five copies of each number to send to his friends. Wherever presented, the plan has met with general favor. It will help to revive the old-time missionary spirit, for which we are all praying.
If you can not do great things, do a little. Everybody must have a part in this missionary movement, which, we trust, will be one of God’s means for enlisting every child of his in this blessed service.
It has been suggested that Sabbath, March 30, be set apart as the day on which to introduce this campaign in all our churches in the United States. But no one need wait for that. Send in your orders at once to your tract society, or to the Signs of the Times, Mountain View, Cal. Cash must accompany the order if sent to the publishers.
Our time to labor is short. What we do must be done quickly. We hope that every Seventh-day Adventist will embrace this opportunity to place the truth in the hands of the people.
C. H. JONES.