Our Periodicals by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 27, 1870

Our Periodicals.

By James White

THESE must be sustained by the united interest and influence of all our people. By the grace of God, it will be the first object of our Publishing Association to make its periodicals as interesting, and as useful, as possible. It is true that real, efficient laborers among us are few; and men who are adapted to the work of editing, who have the burden of the work upon them, are still more scarce. And our periodicals may, for a time at least, suffer for the want of the right kind of help. But, still, the same object is ever kept in view, to make them, as far as possible, the best of their kind in our country.

We shall leave no means untried to call into action sanctified talent for the benefit of our periodicals. We now design to make an organized effort for the object of more fully enriching the columns of each of our periodicals with a high order of original and selected articles. The editor can write but a small portion of his paper. And if there could be a general, united interest on the part of many contributors, his time could be more fully occupied in study and in writing.

Improvements are being made in the Review. And we say, Let them still go on. Prayer and study will give hundreds of our people sanctified thought, holy experience, and golden items, with which to set the columns of the Review all aglow with heavenly luster. No subscriber should discontinue the Review now. Every subscriber needs it. And the Association needs the patronage and support of each subscriber.

Many of our subscribers fully appreciate our efforts, and will hail the Review, enlarged and improved, with great pleasure. We shall do all we can for the Review; and we think that it is not too much to ask that none of our subscribers shall leave us at this time, or, fail to promptly pay for the Review in advance.

Have we given our numerous readers pleasure in improving their paper? This we are happy to do. Then let the mutual joy continue. On our part we feel pledged to our people to do all we can for the Review, and our patrons on their part should feel pledged to sustain us; first, by prompt payment in advance, and second, by sending us the names and addresses of many new subscribers. The Review for 1871 will probably contain many of the most important reasons of our faith and hope. Order it for numerous relatives and friends. It will cost you only $1.50 each, for the entire year.

We are sorry to say that some are ordering the Health Reformer discontinued. *A few do this because this journal does not rigidly adhere to the most extreme positions relative to restricted diet; while more order it discontinued because it is so largely devoted to what they call extreme positions upon diet. But the Reformer should not suffer because of the extreme positions of men. The Reformer is doubtless the best health journal in the land; but there are those who think it can be improved. And in the right way, at the right time, they will bring about those changes which will improve it. This journal, from the very first, has suffered from want of an able, well-balanced, devoted, and yet independent, editor. We are all-awake to the welfare and usefulness of this precious monthly, and shall leave no proper means untried to improve it. But we do not say these things to lead any to think less of the Reformer, and discontinue it. No, no. Hold on, friends. The time to pull, is when the load draws hard. Give us your support now, and, by the grace of God, we will give you an enlarged and improved health journal. Pay up, delinquents, and hold on. Give us your support, and we will do all in our power that you may in return receive twice your money's worth.

The great subject of health reform is in the hands of God. The work is, as it were, in its infancy. It is no use to expect that this cause, in all its parts, will move off like the old, faithful clock in a farmer's kitchen. No, some will be too slow, and others will run too fast. And those used to fretting, will fret. Hold on, friends. Follow your own enlightened convictions. Follow the light. God has the cause of reform in his hands. Wait. Don't fret at those behind you, or at those before you. We don't want people to leave the use of flesh as food, salt, butter, and sugar, simply because you do. No, enlighten and convince, and let them act in these things from clear convictions. This will be better in the end than to try to choke them off. The cause of health reform among us, we trust, will soon be free from the influence of extremists. And we expect to see the Health Reformer much increased in size, and greatly improved, widening its sphere of usefulness, in perfect harmony with our Health Institute, which has been very prosperous the past nine months.

The closing number of the eighteenth volume of the Youth's Instructor is just issued. Eighteen years since we commenced this precious sheet. By the blessing of God, its friends have been multiplied, and its usefulness increased. It now has the care of one eminently qualified to teach youth and children. Bro. Bell is doing a good and great work for our children, and our little paper in his hands deserves a wider circulation. Friends of the Lord, and of the welfare of the children and youth, you are invited to give the Instructor a good circulation. Please send it far and near, and let the children have the words of life and salvation.

Brethren and sisters, one and all, our publications must be sustained. It shall be our first business to make them, as far as possible, what they should be. And nothing shall prevent us in our efforts. Give us your confidence, and your patronage, and, with the blessing of God, we hope to see our periodicals wielding a salutary and extensive influence upon the people. JAMES WHITE.