Missionary Meeting at Seward, Nebraska.
By A. J. Cudney
The State Quarterly Meeting of the Nebraska Tract and Missionary Society was held in the Baptist church, at this place, last Sabbath and Sunday. There was a fair representation of our brethren from other churches. Much of the time was devoted to the consideration of the canvassing work, which is now being pushed forward with some vigor, in the interest of the SIGNS. Some canvassing was done in town before the meetings commenced; forty-six subscriptions at fifteen cents per month were taken; twenty-one of which were taken by one man in half a day. Seward is considered one of the hardest fields for such work in the State. My object in having this work done before the meeting commenced, was to show those who would attend that this work can be done in any place. When the meeting was over, there were ten, who had attended, that decided to give their whole time to this work. Eight will work for the SIGNS; one, who speaks German, will work for the German paper; and one who speaks both Danish and Swedish will spend all his time working for the papers published in those tongues, and the "Home Hand-book." A portion of the town remained uncanvassed till Monday; part of this was given to the new canvassers, who went out and swelled the SIGNS list to ninety-five, and took eight orders for the German paper. The least that any of the new canvassers took was eight names in about three hours. A party of eight then started together for Crete, to canvass that place. Their object in going together was to assist and encourage each other. Two of this party are converted lawyers. Our courage is good. We know that God’s hand is in the work. God is moving upon the hearts of the people, and thus preparing the soil for the precious seed. Public sentiment has greatly changed during the past year. One year ago it required some skill to induce the people, in some localities, to read the paper when it was given them; now they are glad to pay for it for the sake of reading it. Some take the paper themselves, and then pay to have it sent to their friends. April 27, 1883. A. J. CUDNEY.