The Influence of Silent Messengers
OUR silent messengers have an influence not fully appreciated. Few have a full conception of what our books and papers are capable of accomplishing. Many people who would not attend our public gatherings, nor listen to the preaching of the message by the living minister, would receive a paper, a tract, or a book, read it, and obtain the instruction it contains. This is a reading age, — one without a parallel in the history of nations,— and could every believer in the message grasp the importance of the times, and means at hand, the gospel could easily be given to the world in this generation. THE following incident illustrates what can be done with a little consecrated effort, and a small amount of literature: A poor sister wrote to one of our local tract societies for some Sabbath tracts to loan to her neighbors. These tracts were sent to her, and she placed them in the homes of her friends. Soon she was called upon for a more complete work on the Sabbath question, and the tract society sent her a copy of the “History of the Sabbath.” The book has now been loaned to several families, and though only six months have passed since the first delivery of the tracts, four adults are observing the Sabbath as the direct result of this effort. Besides these four, there are several others who are deeply interested, and the “History of the Sabbath” is still in good condition, and is being loaned. DOORS are open everywhere for the reception of our publications. Every mail brings letters of inquiry from every section of the country. The promise of the Lord that his word shall not return unto him void, is fulfilled in many of these letters of inquiry. A man in England found a page of “Daniel and the Revelation” in some packing paper which contained the address of the Review and Herald. The matter on this page interested him, and he wrote a letter in which he quoted all the page, and asked if he could secure the book. Many letters are daily received, inquiring for various kinds of publications, and expressing much interest in the subjects treated in these books.