THE SALE OF “CHRIST’S OBJECT LESSONS” BY THE STUDENTS OF EMMANUEL MISSIONARY COLLEGE.
By Arthur G. Daniells
When the plan for selling sixty thousand copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana before the first of April, was placed before the faculty and students of Emmanuel Missionary College, a silent, general, and deep conviction settled upon them that they ought, without delay, to join our brethren and sisters in this good work. Without being asked by any one to go out and sell the book, and without counseling with one another regarding it, and with a dread of doing that kind of work, many, both among teachers and students, felt that a personal responsibility rested upon them to sell their share of the books. As soon as this became apparent, a joint meeting of the church officers and the college faculty was called, to consider the matter. This council resulted in a unanimous decision that an immediate effort ought to be made by the church and the school to sell at least four copies for every Sabbath-keeper in Berrien Springs. When this was agreed upon, all the church-members and students were called together to hear the report of the committee. After giving it careful consideration, it was voted to instruct the church officers to order five hundred books, the quota for the one hundred and twenty-five Sabbath-keepers in that place. At the same time a committee was appointed to lay plans for organizing the campaign. In a day or two the books arrived from the office, and the committee on organization reported. All the church-members and students were arranged in companies under leaders, and different sections of country were assigned to them to be worked. Tuesday night the school closed for two days, and Wednesday morning all started out to accomplish their task. The results of their efforts will be reported when their work is done. It was truly inspiring to witness the personal responsibility each one felt in this matter, and to see the determination with which every one entered upon the work. The evening they came together to make their final arrangements, there was a howling storm that would seem sufficient to chill the ardor of the strongest heart; but no one seemed affected by this. Every one planned with the greatest deliberation and courage to start out the next morning, storm or no storm. After receiving instructions from the leaders, all engaged in an earnest season of prayer for the blessing of the Lord to rest upon them as they moved out in obedience to their great Leader. In giving this report I must not omit to state that the personal interest manifested by every teacher in the school had much to do with filling the hearts of the students with courage and zeal in this movement. Timid girls who had never done any canvassing, and others who had tried it, but had failed, and had felt a great antipathy against it, were nerved for action by the courageous attitude of their teachers. No one was forced to take hold of the work; in fact, no one was urged to do so. Personal responsibility was pointed out, and every one was left to make his own choice in the matter. Another point worthy of notice was the willingness of some students to sell more than their quota, in order to help a few who, on account of their health or the duties of the house, were unable to go out. There was a general expression that the entire quota of the church and the school should be sold, even if some had to sell many times their number. The privilege of being present to witness all this was very precious to me. I never appreciated more fully the worth of humble, consecrated, courageous teachers. I said to myself that if Seventh-day Adventists could have men and women like the teachers of Emmanuel Missionary College as leaders, it would not be long until everywhere we should see them moving out courageously to perform mighty deeds for God. We await reports from Emmanuel Missionary College with deep interest. In the meantime, let me earnestly request all our brethren and sisters to respond to the call of duty in the “Christ’s Object Lessons” campaign, as our missionary school has done. They are expecting great things from you; and, inasmuch as this great campaign in these four States is in behalf of the school they are attending, they felt that it was becoming to move out in advance of the opening of the campaign, and do just as much as any other one is asked to do. And, brethren, besides working for the means with which to erect suitable buildings, pray earnestly for the blessing of the Lord to rest upon the teachers and students of Emmanuel Missionary College.