Old-Time Missionary Methods
The tract and missionary work of this denomination began in a vigorous way in the old New England States; and any reference to “old-time” methods always strikes fire in that section of the country. The following good words have come to us from Elder A. E. Place: “I feel deeply interested in the subject-matter presented in your letter. I have often spoken to our people in the various churches of the well-remembered days when our ministers carried tracts, and when our brethren and sisters carried them, as you say, in their buggies and sleighs, and we had the genuine, old-fashioned missionary meetings; also of the time when our ministers never thought of holding tent meetings or preaching a sermon without closing with an advertisement of reading matter on the subject presented. It is a source of encouragement to me to know that this ‘old-time’ way is being agitated; and though it comes from the West, we shall welcome it, and assure you that it came from the East first, as you well know; for you are an Eastern man, notwithstanding the fact that you are West now. “I have not as yet carefully examined the tracts you refer to, ‘We Would See Jesus,’ etc.; but the titles themselves recommend them to me, and they will, I believe, to our people also; and it is my desire and determination to do what I can, not only to second the efforts of my brethren, but to stand with them. I have been watching for some time for the fulfillment of the assurance that ‘the message will return East again with power.’”