A GREAT CAMPAIGN FOR THE SALE OF “CHRIST’S OBJECT LESSONS.” by A. G. Daniells; S. H. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 4, 1902

A GREAT CAMPAIGN FOR THE SALE OF “CHRIST’S OBJECT LESSONS.”

By A. G. Daniells; S. H. Lane

To-day we have had excellent meetings in Chicago, in behalf of the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” the Illinois Conference Committee spent several hours together planning for an earnest, enthusiastic, and determined effort to sell the quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons” apportioned to the State. The results of the council cannot be stated in any better way than by the decisions of the committee, expressed in the following resolutions:—

(1) Voted, That all members of this Conference be urged to put forth an earnest, persistent effort to sell 8,000 copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” by the first of April, 1902.

(2) Voted, That the regular laborers of the Conference be advised to devote, as far as possible, their entire time to this work until the eight thousand books are sold.

(3) Voted, That the officers of all the churches of this Conference be earnestly requested to co-operate with the Conference laborers in carrying out this plan.

(4) Voted, That we recommend all the members of the Conference to devote the entire week, beginning February 17, to the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.”

(5) Voted, That all the churches be supplied with a sufficient quantity of books for this campaign, the same to be charged to the local society, with the understanding that the officers be responsible for the pay, or the return of the books in good condition, to the State office.

(6) Voted, That the secretary be instructed to make all arrangements necessary to provide the books required to supply the campaign.

These resolutions mean something. They aim at something definite, and they were passed to be carried out. The committee do not intend to lay them on the shelf, nor permit any one else to lay them there. All that is aimed at is practical, consistent, and possible. It is but the reasonable service of the people.

From the present time until the campaign opens, February 17, the members of the committee and the Conference laborers will do all they can to make every believer in the message thoroughly acquainted with the plan. They will instruct them in the methods of work, and seek to arouse every one to earnest action in this commendable movement.

From the resolutions it will be seen that the work is not to close when the week set apart for the special, united effort closes. All the Conference laborers are to remain in the saddle until complete victory crowns this undertaking. They will continue their personal efforts to sell the book, and to assist the brethren and sisters until the last book is sold. It is believed that this will be accomplished by the first of April.

We confess that it gives us great satisfaction to see a sturdy, determined movement of this sort set on foot by our Conferences. Nothing will give our people courage and hope so much as to see something done. So little of a striking character has taken place among us of late that many feel as Gideon did when he said: “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of?”

At the conclusion of the committee meetings of the day, a most excellent and stirring meeting was held in the Forty-sixth Street church in the interest of this work. The meeting was well attended by leading brethren and sisters from all parts of the city. Elder Daniells spoke for nearly an hour. He was followed by Professor Sutherland and Elder Lane. It was evident, long before the first speaker closed, that the interest was intense, that a good work had been done, and that a greater one would be accomplished. A vote showed that a majority had sold the book in the past. Nearly all further declared themselves determined to begin work in the immediate future. One sister, sixty-three years old, who has sold from house to house about seventy-five copies, stated she would, by the aid of the Lord, dispose of as many more. The elder of the church has sold 290. He is alive in the work. He left our committee meeting yesterday, and on reaching this Office, found a man waiting for him, and before attending to business sold him a book. Two of the brethren, engaged in manufacturing, have sold 125 copies, and have just ordered twenty-five more. At the conclusion of the meeting all seemed thoroughly enthusiastic to begin the work again, and we confidently expect that at an early date hundreds of books will be sold in Chicago.

A. G. DANIELLS, S. H. LANE.