The readers of the Review are well aware of the fact that the book, “Christ’s Object Lessons,” has been given by its author to the denomination, and we fully believe that the proceeds from its sale will pay the denominational school debt, if all enter energetically into its sale. The book is one of the best of the author’s many productions. Those who have read it are delighted with it, and those who have sold it are sure that it can be sold wherever the English language is spoken.
The book is all that can be desired. If our people everywhere engage in its sale, it will only be a question of time when thousands can be placed on the market. The price of the book is $1.25. The Review and Herald Pub. Co., in connection with the Pacific Press Pub. Co., expect to give the work of producing three hundred thousand copies. A fund of fifty thousand dollars is being raised, one half of which is already pledged, and partly paid, to buy the paper and binding material; and when this is accomplished, the book can be placed on the market, costing only the handling, boxing and carriage, so that on each sale at least one dollar will go to the benefit of the schools.
There are fifty thousand Seventh-day Adventists in the United States, and if each one will sell six books, three hundred thousand dollars can be raised, which will nearly, if not wholly, sweep away the school debt of the denomination. We are pleased that our people are taking hold of the work.
The regular canvassers should not make a business of engaging in its sale, but keep at the sale of our other books, so that our publishing houses shall not be crippled in their good work. But our brethren and sisters everywhere should take hold of the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons;” and if they do so, many will continue in the work, selling scores and hundreds instead of just their quota—six books.
This work will bring our people in contact with those not of our faith, and they will have opportunity to do a vast amount of missionary work. A sister wrote to this Office the other day, saying that a short time ago she began to be burdened to do something for the schools, but did not see how she was to do so. She presented the matter to the Lord, and then went to a friend and obtained five dollars, which she invested in books, three of which she soon sold. In her work she told a neighbor of the effort being made to pay off the school debts, and the friend readily and willingly gave her ten dollars, which she inclosed to us. Had she not gone out to work, of course she would not have come in contact with this person, and the money would not have been given.
Another sister inclosed one dollar for the relief of the schools, and said that she was canvassing for “Christ’s Object Lessons.” She met a stranger and asked her to purchase a book. When the woman learned why our sister was selling the book, she gave her a dollar. Our sister asked her to come to Sabbath-school, which she did, and became interested. She is an earnest Christian worker in the Baptist Church. Our canvasser would not have met this stranger, in all probability, if she had not been canvassing for “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Those who are canvassing for it are successful, and are much encouraged in the work.
Sister Cornforth, a Bible worker in Kansas, took thirty-seven orders for the book in three and one-half days. Several are sending in money for the material fund—the big fifty-thousand-dollar fund. A letter just received inclosed one hundred dollars. The writer said: “Though the gift is a small sum, I would like to be able to lift the whole debt, so the Lord would come; for this world has no charms for me. My desire is to be ready when He does come.”
A letter just received from Brother N. P. Nelson, president of the Nebraska Conference, says that two hundred dollars has just been sent to him to aid in the payment of translating the book into the Danish-Norwegian and Swedish languages. We are pleased to state that the Danish-Norwegian translation has been completed, and the type is now being set. The Swedish will soon follow. We trust that all who can read and speak those languages will nobly come to the front, and give liberally for the enterprise.
Now dear reader, if you have not been trying to dispose of some of these books, will you not immediately purchase some of your tract society, and begin the work? The Lord’s hand is in the move, and it will succeed.
Quite a number of the churches have already raised and forwarded money enough for six books for each member, and are at work selling them. We hope, however, that no one will feel satisfied when he has sold six books. We hope that no one will feel satisfied until he has sold six books; then we trust and believe the enthusiasm will be so great that the good work will continue. We should not stop with the sale of three hundred thousand, for there is no reason why a million can not be placed on the market during the next three years.
Let us arouse, and never rest until the great denominational debt is swept from our borders, and we shall unite in singing the song of jubilee. Who will not enlist in the good work? S. H. LANE.
We earnestly request all our kind friends to remember that FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS is needed to pay for the material in “Christ’s Object Lessons.” We ask for large contributions from the rich and small gifts from the poor. Money for this purpose should be sent to the treasurer of the General Conference Association, care of Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.; and be sure to state that it is for THE RELIEF OF THE SCHOOLS.
