p. 7 | A WORD TO OUR READERS by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 3, 1898

A WORD TO OUR READERS.

By Editor

The Helping Hand Mission.

TWENTY-FOUR years ago THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES was started to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God, the present truth for this time. It was not established to build up a business, or a sect, or to make money, but to preach the Gospel of Christ, and to save souls.

Many times since that day its publishers have found at the close of the year the balance on the wrong side of the ledger; the expense was greater than the financial income. But never have they considered for a moment that the publication of the paper should cease. It could not till its work was done. The message which it bears must be given to the world, as Christ has commanded. Rev. 14:6–14. When the Lord’s work for human salvation is finished, then will the mission of THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES be accomplished.

Those who publish the paper do not receive one cent of dividend when the paper pays. The company which publishes it is a stock company, but no dividends are paid. And thousands of dollars have been expended in purely missionary work since its organization.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is devoted to the work of saving men. Every dollar’s profit will be used in making the paper better and in saving souls. It preaches a practical Gospel, an operative faith. In the Gospel of Christ is power to save. The faith of Jesus is operative, and results in working.

Believing this, and realizing the need of action now in these times of need as never before, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES becomes financially responsible for “The Helping Hand Mission” in San Francisco. This mission is just opening in two buildings, 641 to 647 Commercial Street, that place in the city where help is needed most, where the wrecks of saloons are stranded, where the idle congregate, where many, as worthy souls as we, drift, while looking, longing for employment, for clothing, for food, for the barest necessities of life, but finding none. The power of God’s Gospel of grace in word and deed is able to save these. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES believes this, and therefore it has given its aid to this work.

But it does not want to do this alone; and it can not do it alone. A paper is not made up of its editors and publishers alone; it must have its constituents, its patrons, its supporters, subscribers, friends. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES counts on these as a part of its family, of its band of helping hands for this good work. And while it will do all in its power to lift up the fallen and help the needy, absolutely without regard to creed or sect or race or color, it desires the help of every heart which God has made willing and able to assist in this work.

HELPING HAND MISSION BUILDINGS BEFORE RENTING.

When this mission is opened in February it will mean an expenditure of $3,000 at least in the fitting up of the buildings, beds, restaurant, bath-room, reading-room, etc. It will require $100 a month for rent, besides incidental expenses in the way of gas and fuel. This will be met by donations and by the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, as a part of which we count our friends all over the world.

Accompanying is a cut of the fronts of the buildings which we have secured. These buildings are together about 45 feet front by 60 feet deep, three stories high, with basements. The building on the left, where formerly was the “Commercial Saloon,” is also noted as an old training-place of the redoubtable John L. Sullivan, and a portion of the basement has a cement floor which marks the place of the sponging off. The basement seems to have been a general pugilistic arena, for man, beast, and fowl, for cruel dog and cock-fights were among the amusements served up to the sporting habitues of the place.

Altho Monday, January 24, was a holiday in California, and a special gala day in San Francisco, in celebrating the fifty-year jubilee of gold discovery, many hearts burdened for the poor and needy, gave a portion or all of the day in the cleaning up and preparing of these buildings for the Lord’s work. Among these were many hands in the employ of the SIGNS office. Here also came a California University student. One rescued through the jail-work from a greater bondage than iron bars and locks, gave also in gratitude a day. Accountants, printers, book-binders, foreman of pressroom, mechanics, etc., all engaged gladly in work for the Master. It was not outwardly a lovely scene from an artistic and esthetic point of view, but it was a pleasing picture from the view-point of the cross of Calvary.

But of this we shall have more to say hereafter. Elsewhere is given a report of receipts, as furnished by our secretary and treasurer. These receipts we shall report from week to week in a general way. If the donors desire their names to appear, we will acknowledge gifts in this way. But let this be stated clearly.

We still want, for the Saviour’s sake and humanity’s sake, money, blankets, sheets, pillow-slips, dishes, chairs, beans, grains, fruits, etc. Send all moneys to Helping Hand Mission, care SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Twelfth and Castro Streets, Oakland, Cal., and all provisions, blankets, clothing, etc., to Helping Hand Mission, 641 Commercial Street, San Francisco. Cal.