A Winter’s Campaign on Relief by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 20, 1906

A Winter’s Campaign on Relief

By E. R. Palmer

THE Scripture tells us of a certain season of the year when kings went forth to battle. We as a people have again come to the season when it is customary to devote special energy to the circulation of our literature. The heaviest work of the season is over. The winter months are before us with longer evenings and pleasant opportunities for visiting friends and neighbors, and for carrying good cheer, and good books, tracts, and papers to their homes.

The work of the missionary campaign has already been introduced, and is going forward. Our object in writing this brief article is to call your attention again to our excellent relief books,—“Christ’s Object Lessons,” dedicated to the schools, and “Ministry of Healing,” dedicated to the sanitariums. I wonder how many of our people really understand and appreciate the value of these two books as important entering wedges for the gospel in the homes of the people. They represent the two great phases of the gospel work of Christ. “Ministry of Healing” represents the work of Christ in touching the bodies of men, and in relieving them of their sufferings, while “Christ’s Object Lessons” presents more particularly his teaching by means of parables. The two books, together, cover the great work of his life as he “went about doing good,” and our brethren and sisters can take nothing better with them as they go from house to house on that same mission among the people. These books will not arouse prejudice. Even unbelievers admit the beauty of their teaching. They contain beautiful rays of light which will dispel darkness in many homes, and will prepare the people for the fulness of the third angel’s message. In planning our missionary work for the winter let us not forget these two books, nor the schools and sanitariums to which they are dedicated.

A great work has been done with “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Thousands of homes have been enlightened by it, and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been paid off from the debts of these institutions which we love. Still there is more to be done. In some conferences there are quite a good many books on hand which ought to be sold. In some places the college debts are not wholly paid. Quite a good many conferences are planning to make special efforts during this season to close up the work with “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Let us plan and work and pray until the mission of this book has been fully accomplished.

We are just beginning a world-wide effort for the sale of “Ministry of Healing” in behalf of our sanitariums. A little has been done in all the unions,

and plans are being laid for more active work in many places. This is one of the grandest books for missionary work that has ever been written. Our leading men think it not second to anything that Sister White has ever produced. All our people should own a copy for their own reading, and should do all in their power to supply it to their neighbors.

What a blessed thing it would be if God’s people, during the winter, would all take a personal responsibility upon themselves for seeing that their proportion of the work is done. Much would be saved in the organization of expensive campaigns, the truth would be given to many homes, and our sanitariums would be greatly encouraged and blessed.

Knowing the value of these books, and the earnest efforts put forth for them in the past, we would bespeak for them a large circulation during the next three months. Supplies may be obtained from the State tract society office or from the librarian of the church.

E. R. PALMER,

Sec. Gen. Conf. Relief Bureau.