Literature for Louisville
By Otho C. Godsmark
Two years ago we wrote an appeal to our brethren through the REVIEW, asking that they kindly send us, for free distribution, boxes and barrels of clean papers, tracts, and such books as they could spare, that we might have something with which to begin our work here in this great city of the South. The response was so full and free that we were overstocked at the time, and had to write another appeal to have no more sent until we could dispose of what had already been received. We need not say that we appreciated this manifestation of interest in the Southern work on the part of our brethren and sisters throughout the North, East, and West. Besides the boxes and barrels of books, tracts, and papers that were so kindly sent, we also received several donations of money to help us in repairing the church building we had just purchased, which we were trying to get in shape so we could have a place for meetings, to which to invite others to hear this precious truth. All these blessings were received with thanksgiving, and the Lord, we believe, has blessed the givers as much as he has those who were the recipients of these gifts. We wish to thank all these for their remembrances of the work here in this part of the Southern field. We have succeeded in repairing our place of worship, and have held many excellent meetings in this house, and had many precious experiences. A number have accepted the truth, and are now rejoicing in it. These have come to us as the results of the Bible work done by my wife, who has been the only white Bible worker we have been able to place in this whole city. We have our building nearly half paid for; but the death of two of our prominent members this past year, makes the financial burden fall heavily upon those of us who are left. Now what we want is another supply of papers,—good, clean papers,—also tracts that are in shape to use, and all the bound books on present truth that can well be spared, even if they are among our first publications. Such as20will do, we use here in Louisville. Many we send out over the conference to our workers who need them, but can not afford to buy them. Of the books and tracts sent us before, many are now being eagerly and thoughtfully read among the mountains of eastern Kentucky. One of our missionaries, Brother J. W. Stein, has found his way up among those hills, and has there established a good company of believers who rejoice in the preciousness of this last message of mercy. They are glad, indeed, to get these old books, and when carefully read, they pass them on to their neighbors, and come together evenings to discuss the wonderful truths that they contain. If you will simply box or barrel up these books, papers, and tracts that are of little use to you, and will send them to us, being sure in every case to prepay the freight, we shall be glad to get them, and will see that they are put to some good use here in the South. Now please do not box up torn, dirty papers, many of them not our publications at all, and send them on for us to pay the freight, merely to throw them away because they are totally unfit to use anywhere. The most that were sent before were in good shape, freight prepaid, and we were glad, indeed, to get them. But we do not care to pay out money on such publications as The Ladies’ Home Journal, The Farm and Home, The Inland Printer, etc. We received quite a number of these before; but, of course, could not use them in our work. Send us such papers as The Southern Watchman, The Signs of the Times, THE REVIEW AND HERALD, Good Health, The Youth’s Instructor, etc. We had one tent pitched in eastern Kentucky last season, and expect to have two in the State this summer, one for the colored, and one for the white. We wish these papers and tracts, not only for Louisville, but also to place in these tents this coming season. Many of the books will be scattered among what is known as the “mountain whites” of eastern Kentucky. We shall be glad to receive these, also donations for our work here in Louisville, from our brethren anywhere. I ask an interest in your prayers, and I also pray that the blessing of the Lord may rest upon such as shall assist us in our great work here in the South. OTHO C. GODSMARK,
2005 Magazine St., Louisville, Ky.