p. 7 | HOW IT SHOULD BE by H. A. St. John

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 4, 1876

HOW IT SHOULD BE.

By H. A. St. John

President. Dear Brother director, I am truly gratified to greet you at this State quarterly meeting of the T. & M. Society. My own heart is very much encouraged by the omens of good, and tokens of progress everywhere manifest in connection with this glorious cause. How is it with you?

Director. I can assure you, brother, my courage never was better, nor my hope brighter, than to-day. I have been trying to work some in the vineyard, and to encourage my brethren to work for Jesus, and as a consequence I feel stronger in the Lord and am fully assured of the speedy triumph of our solemn message.

President. Praise the Lord! I know we may exhort one another, and thereby build each other up in the most holy faith. I am very anxious to inquire how you have responded to the roll call for the present quarter?

Director. I am very happy to inform you that I have obtained a report from every member in my district. 'Tis true, I have made some exertion to secure a report, but I am doubly paid by renewed courage; and besides this, I think the brethren will more easily and readily report next time.

President. How encouraging your good work is! I am so glad to see you. You are right in laboring faithfully to develop a reporting system. It is only a part of tactics, to be sure, but what could an army do without tactics, and of what use are tactics unless understood and practiced? Our efficiency to work in union and concert depends upon this. We must understand how to work together, and the strength of our union will be felt over the land. But I must inquire about donations. Do your members send their reports quite generally without any solicitation? Have you examined your records in this respect?

Director. I have examined my reports, and it gives me pleasure to inform you that every report contains a donation. Some of them are small, it is true, but the least we can do for Jesus is precious in his sight.

President. Oh, how cheering! Just as it should be. Somehow your words impart courage. Our sacred fund is kept mainly by donations. Should these fail, our work is seriously crippled, if not wholly retarded. Donations, great and small, should come in quarterly from every member. They should come cheerfully, for God loveth the cheerful giver. I know that our excellent quarterly meeting is over and for a time we are called to suffer a few words of counsel. Encourage all your members to donate liberally in the coming quarter. Although we are all free from debt, taking annually a new start, yet with liberal gifts the free-will offerings must come in to keep the blessed cause moving. See if you cannot get a donation of not less than a dollar from each one the coming quarter. Some, no doubt, will do much more than this. Encourage all to do so, because they love the precious truth which the money will buy and scatter abroad. Encourage all to report because they love union and concentration of effort. Encourage all to labor, because they love the precious souls, and the blessed cause of divine truth. Now, brethren, all farewell.

“Refreshed again we start, Though for awhile we part, Yet always joined in heart, We'll meet in glory.”

H. A. ST. JOHN,