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TENNESSEE

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

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 2.

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TENNESSEE

By M. Luther Butler

MURFREESBORO.—Since the first of last June my wife (née Olive Hagle) and I have been engaged in the canvassing work in Tennessee. We have enjoyed much of the blessing of the Lord in our work. We have had some unfavorable surroundings, but the promise has been verified that “the parched ground shall become a pool.”
As I have visited the homes, many have taken down dusty Bibles, and begged me to explain what some things mean. It has been my privilege to sell some Bibles to those who never had one in their homes; and when I meet some of these persons, from time to time, they tell me how proud they are of their Bibles, and that they are studying them. I am holding many Bible readings, but I find more openings than I can fill. As I meet the people, they entreat me to come and hold readings with them. The people here feel that they must almost bow to any one who can explain the Bible to them. Some of the poor people take their last cent to buy a book when we tell them of the important truths contained therein.
A family I visited a short time ago said to me: “We have tried for a long time to get money enough ahead to buy us a Bible, but it seems impossible.” I then told them that it was the devil who brought about these circumstances, and made them think they could not get a Bible or good books; for he well knew that they would then have the light. They then said: “We will get a Bible if it takes the food out of our mouths; for we do not want the devil to cheat us out of a blessing.” The people here have been sadly neglected, and they need some one to tell them the way. I find them greatly interested in the matter of healthful living, and have gained entrance into several of the wealthy homes by telling them some of the principles of healthful living. One wealthy farmer said to me when I went to his home: “I don’t want any books. There is no use of your coming here. I never bought a book of an agent.” I told him I had not asked him to buy, but only wanted to talk with him a few moments. The subject of healthful living,—living so as not to defile these bodies of ours, which are temples of the Holy Ghost,—soon became the topic of conversation. He then asked to see my book, and told me to bring him one. When I went to deliver it, he met me at the gate with the money in his hand. He was pleased to see me, and invited me to call again. I expect to sell him another book.
By the help of the Lord, I obtained the orders of six colored men who work for a rich man. When I went to deliver the books, the rich old man met me at the gate with a club in his hand, forbidding me to deliver the books. He said he did not want his niggers to have books, and any one who bought a book, he would discharge. The colored men knew the day I was coming, and they met me, one by one, down the road, and when they paid me for their books, they said, “We must hide this book, for it is a forbidden book; but we must have it, for we want to know some of God’s word.”
A great many of the colored people are still in bondage, but they must have the truth. I am glad of the privilege of working for Christ. The privilege of working for souls will soon be ours no more. Then shall we not arise and work with our might, that it may be said to us in that day: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”?
M. LUTHER BUTLER.