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OUR BOOKS' AND TRACTS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 26, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 13.

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OUR BOOKS' AND TRACTS

By S. H. Lane

No one during the course of time, and only the redeemed in eternity itself, can tell the good that our books are accomplishing in the world. Glory and honor will be ascribed to the King of kings and Lord of lords, throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, from more than one immortalized tongue of the redeemed, because of the sanctifying influence of the truth brought to their notice through our publications.
Nearly every mail received at this Office brings further evidence that the truth is stirring hearts; and an entire REVIEW could be filled with interesting facts culled from our mail. As an illustration of this, I quote a few lines from some letters that have been received from a person attending a large and influential university. The writer says: “I have in my possession a precious little book, entitled ‘Steps to Christ,’ which was written by Mrs. E. G. White, and published by the Review and Herald Pub. Co., and in the back of the book I see that a full line of religious publications on a wide range of subjects is kept on hand by you. I send you four cents in stamps for a tract entitled the ‘Sufferings of Christ.’ I also add two cents for a tract entitled ‘Tempted as We Are.’ Please send them at once.”
They were sent, and I wrote him quite a lengthy letter, in which I stated that we have a book, written by Mrs. White, entitled “Mount of Blessing,” which some think equal to “Steps to Christ,” and which I regard fully as good.
An order for the book was soon received, accompanied by a letter, in which he says: “I must say that I have drawn more information by reading your literature than I have in reading all other literature combined. I am almost persuaded to purchase a whole library of you. I shall endeavor to keep in touch with you. I am much gratified with the additional tracts you sent me.”
In my first letter I gave him some of the reasons why I am an Adventist, and associated with that people; and in reply to that letter he says: “Your reasons for being a Seventh-day Adventist are good ones indeed, and I do not think you will find more truth among any other people. I have not.” I wrote him, stating that the “Mount of Blessing” had been sent. Book mail being slower than letter mail, the book did not reach him for a short time after the letter did. He became so anxious that he wrote again, and I replied that the book would probably be on hand in a short time; if not, we would send again. In this morning’s mail we received the following from him: “I am proud to say that I received the book, ‘Mount of Blessing,’ Monday, March 4, and this is Monday, March 11, and I have read it through. I find it an excellent book. The books, ‘Mount of Blessing’ and ‘Steps to Christ,’ are so interesting, reviving, and instructive that I am compelled to believe that they were written by inspiration. I was so anxious to get the ‘Mount of Blessing,’ that the time of waiting for it seemed longer than it really was.” He requested a catalogue, and I replied that one was on the press, and that we would send it in a few days; and in his last letter he adds, “Please do not forget to send me the catalogue: I wish to order more literature.”
These are only specimens of many letters we are receiving; and let me ask every one who reads this article, Are you doing all you can in loaning our books and papers? If you are not, will you not begin a reformation right now? And if you have never sent out any of these good books on their mission of love and mercy, will you not do so at once? Have you not some friends to whom you can recommend “Steps to Christ,” and “Mount of Blessing,” and many of our works; or can you not purchase some of these books to send to your friends? They will make a lasting impression. From your efforts souls will be converted to God; and when a person is once converted to God, he will receive the truth as it is presented. Why not revive the old-time missionary spirit of writing letters, and of advertising our books and papers everywhere? Who will think over these matters and begin the work now? for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. S. H. LANE.