ILLINOIS TRACT WORK by G. W. Colcord

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1876

ILLINOIS TRACT WORK.

By G. W. Colcord

Members of the Illinois T. & M. Society, I appeal to you: Is it right to allow quarter after quarter to glide by, and we do no more than we have done?

It is true that some labor has been performed, and we hope fruit therefrom will be seen in the world to come; nevertheless, the stern fact is before us: “We are not doing one-twentieth” of what should be done for the salvation of souls! Illinois is a promising field of labor. Men of means, men of intelligence, men of piety, and men of holy influence, can be brought into the truth. Then, with God’s blessing, these souls will aid us in pushing forward the work in our Conference as never before. Our State must, and surely will, furnish its quota for redemption at the return of the Lifegiver; but, where, just now.

“Are the reapers to garner in The sheaves of good from the fields of sin?”

I don’t ask, Where are the members of the Illinois T. & M. Society? We know all about the standing of our Society; our secretary has a complete list of the names. This is the question: “Where are the reapers?” Where are the hard workers—the earnest laborers for Christ?

Every member of our Society should see to it that not one quarter is allowed to pass without his having done something; then more, and more, and more.

Some, however, offer excuses. One brother says, “I have given tracts to my neighbors till they will receive no more.” My answer is, Handing out tracts is a very small part of real tract work. With your heart full of the love of God, visit those to whom you give papers and tracts, and pray with them. Follow up the effort. Be wise; be kind; be earnest. Try it, brethren and sisters, and may the Lord give you fruit. Aye, I must go further: We must do something to save others, or we ourselves will be lost! There are no starless crowns to be worn on high!

Another says, “Just now I have no tracts.” I reply: “Very true; but look at your paper-rack! I sometimes enter the homes of our brethren and sisters where I behold more than fifty of our different papers. There they lie, doing no good! Did you not pray this morning, “Lord, send forth thy light?” Then be an instrument in his hands of answering your own prayers. Scatter the papers.

A third brother says, “I do give away my papers, besides distributing tracts every quarter.” I respond, Why, then, don’t you report? More than one-half of the present quarter is already past, and what has been done? Who have carefully and prayerfully given away a goodly number of our papers? sold, loaned, or given tracts? sold or given away almanacs? And, last of all, who have labored hard to secure good names for the SIGNS, and our other periodicals, and then closed each effort by faithfully recording in the “memorandum book” all work done? Who will work with zeal till the next quarterly meeting? Who will fail to report? Brethren and sisters, I entreat you all to act nobly your part for God.

G. W. Colcord.

Mt. Vernon, Ill., Feb. 29, 1876.