Looking · Backward by P. T. MAGAN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1902

Looking · Backward

By P. T. MAGAN

It is sometimes a good thing to look backward. The lives and deeds of men, both good and bad, were written for us upon whom the ends of the world are come. From the heroism of those who have gone before, courage and faith may oftentimes be drawn to nerve us for the battles of to-day. It is God's plan that it should be so.

Looking backward over the period of time which has elapsed since the work with “Christ's Object Lessons” first began in the early days of 1900, much can be seen which, if studied, will inspire not only holy faith and joy, but loyalty and perseverance until the victory is won.

The history of the work with “Christ's Object Lessons” has been an interesting one from its inception.

The gray dawn of the first days of the closing year of the nineteenth century

arose upon our cluster of denominational colleges and academies, sitting in sadness and despair, with debts aggregating three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and ever-increasing interest, amounting to sixteen thousand dollars per annum, threatening to terminate their existence contemporaneously with the ending of the century.

The debt question was an old one. The Battle Creek College, our first educational institution, had come to its birth in debt. All her sister institutions—South Lancaster Academy, Union College, Walla Walla College, Keene Industrial School, Graysville Academy, and the Huntsville School—had also been born with a cloud of debt hanging over them. Each year things were growing worse and harder; the end, apparently, was growing nearer. All who understood the situation knew that it was only a matter of time until relief must come or the schools must close their doors.

When brethren had talked with brethren over the debt question, no one had ever proposed a feasible plan for the payment of those debts. The denomination was fast settling down into a belief, almost amounting to a faith, that these debts never would be paid,—that they never could be paid,—at least not until the days of the loud cry of the third angel should come, bringing the merchant princes of the world, with their hoarded wealth of gold, into the fold of the remnant church. Then it was thought deliverance might be wrought. But the blessed time seemed far away, enveloped in the mist of the future. With us, that gave but little comfort, for the creditors were pressing their claims closer and closer, and no signs of relief were gladdening the horizon.

I well remember, one dark winter evening, of sitting in the office with the manager of the Review and Herald. We had been talking over the large sum which the Battle Creek College owed the publishing house. “Do you really expect that debt will ever be paid?” I asked. “No, I do not,” was the reply, “unless some windfall comes to the college some day; that is the only chance.”

It was only a few weeks after this when the unexpected happened. Out of the cloud God spake, and gave the plan of “Christ's Object Lessons” for the relief of the schools.

At the present time, with more than half the books already sold, it is comparatively easy to see what a wonderful plan this was, and the great things it is destined to accomplish. We have seen thousands of people who had never sold a book, go forth in the name of the Master, and succeed in this work. We have seen the sick, unable to leave their beds of pain, presenting this God-given volume to friends and neighbors who came to comfort them in their affliction, and thus the afflicted ones brought light and peace to those who had come to cheer them.

We have seen the blind and the maimed taking the precious pages of “Christ's Object Lessons” to those in their communities, rejoicing at the opportunity to carry the gospel of Christ. We have seen church after church sell its entire quota, some even having done this two or three times. We have seen at least two conferences practically complete their entire work. We have seen peace and union come into churches where before there had been naught but enmity and strife. We have seen scores upon scores of men and women who never knew before that they could do anything for the blessed Master, now fired with a spiritual passion to give their lives to scattering the literature which tells of the return of our Lord to earth. We have seen little children praying to God to give them grace to help in this work, and then we have seen them going from house to house, angels attending their little footsteps with success, they meanwhile touching, as could nothing else on earth, the hearts of those with whom they came in contact.

All these things have occurred during the two years now past of the work with “Christ's Object Lessons” for the relief of the schools. They are not isolated and uncommon happenings, but events of common occurrence all over the land. Our eyes have seen and our ears have heard these precious things. We have looked upon them; our hands have handled them, and we bear witness that this work is a part of the precious Word of Life which was with the Father, and which has been made manifest to us. And, as it was written once of old, so let it be written again: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

But in the beginning it was not so. The dawning of “Christ's Object Lessons” was the ending of a long, dark night. Long years before, our brethren and sisters in the churches had lost the spirit of work with our literature. At one time the scattering of tracts and pamphlets by the church members had been an important and flourishing spiritual industry; but by 1900 this work had dwindled and decayed until there was but little left of it. Ten years earlier, in 1890, there had been a great interest awakened in the regular canvassing work. But this, too, had gradually died down, until but few continued in the field.

At the time when the work for “Christ's Object Lessons” was first proposed, the canvassing work, in every form, was at a low ebb. Many who had once been enthusiastic in it had, on account of lack of success, or for other causes, become disheartened, lost their first love, and given up. A general feeling of dislike for the book work existed everywhere. The sales of the canvassers were getting smaller and smaller; the agents in the field were growing fewer and fewer.

Thus, it was argued that, if canvassers, with all their training and advantages, could not sell books, how would it be possible for people to do so who had never received any training and had had no advantages.

In short, the whole idea that the debts of our schools could be paid by the sale of a book, and that by the common people, without the aid of the regular canvassers, was looked upon as a fanciful daydream, impossible of accomplishment.

Nevertheless, in simple faith the foundations of the movement were laid, and the machinery for the organization of the work put in motion.

The first thing was the appointment, by the General Conference Committee, of a committee for the relief of the schools. That committee consisted of Brethren G. A. Irwin, S. N. Haskell, L. A. Hoopes, J. E. White, W. C. Sisley, and the writer.

The matter was laid before the board of trustees of the Review and Herald. On this board was one earnest and warm friend of the movement, W. C. Sisley, who was then manager of the institution. The undertaking was a serious one for the publishing house. The Battle Creek College was already owing it over fifty thousand dollars, and it was a question whether or not, even if the books were made and given to the schools, they could be sold, and if they were sold, whether the money would really be used for the proper purposes, or whether it would be expended, not to pay the debts, but to add building to building, and facility to facility.

For a long time the publishing boards of both the Review and Herald and the Pacific Press wrestled with the question. The publishing houses were none too rich themselves; they had carried heavy burdens for the general cause, and did not feel competent to do much more.

At last the publishing houses decided to do their part, and to join the author in making a gift to our schools, by donating the work of manufacture on three hundred thousand copies. They proposed to the Relief of the Schools Committee that it should raise sufficient money to pay for the type setting, plate making, illustrating, the paper and the binding material, and enough to carry on the ordinary expenses of conducting the work.

Then the Relief of the Schools Committee held its first important meeting. One thousand dollars was needed for the artist's work on the illustrations. Many felt that the money never could be raised. But the Relief Fund has been blessed of God, and instead of raising merely one thousand dollars, over forty-six thousand dollars have been paid into its treasury and expended in the work.

At first no one had any clear conception as to what would be proper plans for the selling of the book. It was a question then whether the ministers should be taken from their regular work to assist the people in getting started. It was a question whether or not the people would agree to sell the book, without a commission of forty or fifty per cent. It was thought that various financial inducements must be offered to the brethren and sisters in the churches in order to get them to take hold of this enterprise.

At the camp meetings the matter was presented, and while it met with favor, no one had much of any certainty as to what could be accomplished.

During the summer of 1900 a number of books were pledged for, at the different annual gatherings. Then the question arose as to whether or not they would really be sold and paid for. With the fall of the year a definite campaign for the sale of the book began. The first strong movement was made in the State of Iowa, which was divided into districts, which were given in charge of the workers, and a serious campaign was afoot.

Things were now assuming a more definite and tangible shape. Sales began to be made, and courage took possession of many hearts. Other conferences, all over the land, followed the example of Iowa, and by the spring of the year at least forty-six thousand volumes had been disposed of. Deep inroads had been made into the debts of the various schools, and hope and joy were instilled into the hearts of not only the people who were doing the work, but the managers of the different schools, who began to see relief.

During the summer of 1901 there was

a lull in the work. Plans were, however, laid to open the campaign again in the autumn. This plan failed of realization. For some reason nothing was done until January of the current year. Then a far more thoroughly organized effort, an effort productive of far greater results, was set on foot by the president of the General Conference. It soon spread to almost every State and Territory in the American Union.

In England, Germany, and Australia the work was also opened up. Faith had blossomed into sight, and almost every one was now convinced that God indeed had given a wonderful plan, not only for the relief of the schools, but for the reviving of the spirit of work and spirituality in the hearts of his people, the unifying of the churches, and the adding of many believers unto the Lord.

All these things breathe hope and courage, and nerve us for the battles of the future.

We are now about to begin the third, and we trust the last, campaign for the relief of our schools. The past will suffice to inspire us with hope and courage, but the God of the present alone can render the help needed in order to make the work a success.

And now we must never, never, allow this movement to degenerate into one of carnal activity. With the spirit of Martha, who ministered to her Master, must go the prayers of Mary, who sat at the feet of her Lord, listening to his words. This is the better part, which all must have in order that a real success of heart, as well as of work, may be enjoyed. It is not enough simply to sell books and bring financial relief to the schools. This is but a small part of the promised blessing. We must humbly seek Jesus for an inflow of his Holy Spirit, so that the flame of the Spirit of God may be kindled in many hearts which now sit in darkness. This is the all-important, the all-absorbing work of the hour. If the work for the sale of “Christ's Object Lessons” does not accomplish this, both in the heart of the canvasser and in the heart of the one canvassed, the work will not be a success.

Let the spiritual side of the message be ever uppermost in our minds; and while we work as if all depended upon us, let our prayers ascend to God above, with a realization that all depends upon him.

Then the work will go forward in its fullness; books will be sold; the school debts will be paid; men and women who hitherto have known nothing of the sweets of working in the Master's vineyard will receive a blessed experience, and souls will be garnered to the fold of Christ.

P. T. MAGAN.