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At the Front

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 10.

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At the Front

By Joel C. Rogers

When the last call was sounded for volunteers to enlist in the army to emancipate our schools, I was glad to be ready for the service. It had been my desire ever since the campaign started fifteen months ago to join the ranks. It was my privilege to place a copy of the first edition of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in the hands of a family who bought it for a present to their Baptist minister. I did not then realize that it was my duty to press the battle.
On February 18 fifty copies of the book were placed in my hands, and I took a train at Battle Creek for the nearest city west, Kalamazoo, expecting to sell them before returning. Possibly my determination bore a slight resemblance to that of the Spartan soldier who felt that he would never return home unless a victor or a corpse. Reaching my field of battle, and realizing that God was my only source of strength, encouragement came as the Captain of our army spoke to my soul, saying, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.” Ps. 32:8.
To describe the march, countermarch, and battle of the first day would take a long time. I soon learned that to reach the hearts of the people with the book, my own heart must be filled with its good things. So I made the book itself my daily study. I was astonished to find so many beautiful things on every page; and the water of life, which began to flow into my own heart and quicken my experience, was soon passed on to others. No books were sold the first day, but two were left for examination, and both were sold next day. Being obliged to lodge in a hotel the first night, I was enabled to sell a book to the proprietor, and one to a guest. Seven were sold the second day. Just as hard work was done the next day, and not a book was sold. Working early and late, persistently and earnestly, while continually pleading with God for help, victory came, and after eight days the fifty books were in the people’s hands. Let nothing deter any one from pressing to the front line in this great campaign, and emancipation to all our schools will be proclaimed speedily. JOEL C. ROGERS.