Tract and Missionary Work.
By George I. Butler
The importance of this work has not been fully estimated by many of our people thus far, and it is the design of this article to call the attention of the readers of the REVIEW to some things connected with it, and to some of the means necessary to accomplish the design of its organization. This subject was one of the most interesting brought before the General Conference at its recent session, and we should have been greatly pleased to have all the readers of the REVIEW present on that occasion, that they might have heard what we heard, and had the spirit of the work infused into their hearts. The remarks of Eld. Haskell, of the New England Conference, and Bro. Kinne, of New York, were very encouraging and instructive, and well worthy of being remembered and carefully considered. The workings of the Tract and Missionary Society, where it has been really carried out according to the original plan, have been most encouraging, and if in our Western States it has not seemed to accomplish the same work, we think the reason to be simply this—the original plan has not been fully tried. No plan of action should be held responsible for apparent failure, until it has had a fair trial. But this society has always proved a success when it has had such a trial. And here I may be allowed to say a word in reference to my own feelings, concerning this society. When it was first organized, and put into operation by Eld. Haskell, in New England, I had some doubts about its proving a success, especially in our Western States. There seemed to be considerable machinery about it, some of which I could not see the need of, as I did not understand all its workings. The condition of things in New England is different in some respects from that in our larger Western States, where the means of travel are not so fully provided. These and other reasons seemed to make it a matter of doubt whether the plan would prove practicable in a larger field. But the last season has made me a full convert to the practicability of the plan as carried out there. During the last season, while our Western States have been measurably hesitating in regard to some of the provisions, New York, the largest State in which we have an organized Conference, has heartily adopted it, and is now reaping the benefits of the same. Bro. Kinne, a layman, the President of the Conference, and of the Society, stated in the General Conference, that the influence of the Society in that State, since its organization a year ago, had, in his judgment, been more effectual for good than all the preaching bestowed during the same period. In localities where the cause had been languishing for a long period in consequence of past troubles, the introduction of this Society-work had aroused an interest unfelt for years, and hope and courage were springing up in the hearts of the people. There is no Conference that has labored under greater discouragements than New York. No State where there was a greater territory to be organized, and none where the brethren were more scattered. Yet the plan has been working finely, and has proved a blessing to the cause. The same is true in regard to Ohio. This Conference has had no ordained minister of its own for years in the past. It is a large State. The brethren were in many places somewhat discouraged. And when the Society was organized by Bro. Haskell, he was unable to be with them long enough to fully instruct them in all its workings. And since its organization, some of its officers have resigned, and various perplexities have had to be met, and great discouragements to be encountered. Yet, under all this, it is believed that the tract and missionary work there, is in advance of any other State where this plan has not been carried out. I might say the same in regard to Maine, another State where Bro. Haskell has been able to partially carry out the plan. All these instances have proved to me the practicability of the plan, and shown furthermore that our Western States have suffered a loss in permitting themselves to fall into the rear in this great work of the Tract and Missionary Society. The results, as seen in the New England Conference where it has been more fully tried, are worthy of study. This Conference was generally regarded as one of the hardest in which to accomplish any great results of any in the field. Previous to the organization of this society, the General Conference had to support much of the labor bestowed in that field. But since it has been put in operation, New England has become one of the foremost in supporting our various enterprises, though it is known to be less wealthy, and in membership less numerous, than many others. It numbers not far from three hundred, with S. B. about $3000, being about $10.00 per member on the average. Let us notice two other prosperous Conferences, Michigan, and Iowa. The first, with a membership of about sixteen hundred, according to the N. E. rates per member, should have an S. B. list of $16,000. But it has only about $6500, while Iowa, with her seven hundred members, should have at the same rate an S. B. list of $7000, but actually has only about $3500, or one-half the New England rate, and yet it cannot be shown that the people on the average are poorer in these States than in New England, but rather the contrary. The same facts hold true of other Conferences. Not one of them comes up as high as New England. What has brought about this wonderful contrast within so few years? Those best prepared to answer say, The Tract and Missionary Society. But this change is not all confined to the matter of Systematic Benevolence. It is seen in the same distinctness in most other directions; in the matter of donations for various purposes. I was struck with this in the last camp-meeting, when appealing for help on the Hygienic Book Fund. In no State did I see the friends step forward with the alacrity that they did in New England. In the appeal for $100 each to be loaned without interest to help Bro. T. J. Butler, New England was the first on the ground, with about one-third of the whole amount. So in regard to paying up arrearages on our periodicals. They tell me at the Office that there was a very marked contrast when the lists of the different Conferences were taken up. The New England list was far ahead of any other Conference, and those States that had partially adopted the plan, stood next. But it may be said by an objector, that a special pressure has been brought to bear, that the brethren have overacted, and that a reaction will take place and great weakness result. So far from this being the case, never was there a time since the organization of the society, within the last three years, when money could be raised there with the ease it can now after these three years’ experience. As we work, we become more able to work. Exercise gives strength. This great law of God applies to giving labor or means as well as in other directions. This is the secret of strength. New England men and women have gone to work as though they believed this cause a reality. As they work, they find additional strength to work. So far from having overacted, they are just getting ready to act. May God bless their good example to the good of our people everywhere. The true secret of their success is in the plan, which brings every man, woman, and child, into a harmonious system. Each mite cast in, goes to swell the amount, as the little rivulets run into the great river which rolls its mighty volume of waters on to the sea. Our Systematic Benevolence affords an excellent illustration of this whole tract and missionary work. Many of us can remember what difficulties were encountered in raising means for the support of the cause previous to adopting our present plan. And why was this? Simply because there was no recognized system established which would bring all the membership into working order. Many did not realize their obligations. They125were never set before them properly, and the burden of the work fell upon a few liberal souls, who had to give far more than they were able to, or to see the blessed work which was more precious to them than life stop for lack of proper support. But when this voluntary system of giving was set before all, and their duty made plain, the difficulty was met, simply because all the membership became workers. Where all do only a little, far more is accomplished in the aggregate than where only a few do liberally. So in the tract and missionary work. The object is that all shall become workers. Every member becomes one of a vigilance committee on the alert, to scatter light and to help forward the work. The women, and even the children, are welcomed as participants. When the General Conference assembles, and all parts of the cause are represented, and matters of great moment are decided upon, and important calls are to be made, the delegates and leading brethren go to their several Conferences and communicate through the tract society to every member of the body. And through this medium, contributions are made, from a penny up to hundreds of dollars, from men, women, and children, for the purpose of carrying out that which our highest legislative body, composed of our delegates, shall deem best for the interests of the whole cause. During the last war, directions from the headquarters at Washington flashed along the wires to the remotest parts of our country. And the whole force was in motion. So we may carry on our work when these societies are properly organized and directed. What a mighty engine of strength this will be to us when this is fully accomplished! Every man, woman, and child, may then be a worker for the cause they love. Then real progress may be made. Then burdens which now fall upon our ministers will fall where they belong, and they may be left to labor to gather in souls. If any have thought that the object to be accomplished by this society was merely to scatter a few tracts, they have been much mistaken. It is designed to cover a far greater field, and to bring about equality among all our membership. Then all our institutions will be properly cared for, and channels of communication be opened in all directions, to affect souls and bring them to Christ. We have no time to delay in this important matter. Several of our Conferences have already lost a year in getting under way. This lost time should be made up. From past observation, we are satisfied that the plan carried out in New England has proved by far the most effective. Local societies lack the essential features which are needed to make each society a part of one great system. The important objects to be accomplished will be lost unless all these societies are united in one general system. We think our Western States will fail to realize the golden opportunity if they do not send in urgent invitations to Bro. Haskell to help them get well started in this important work. We think his time could not be more profitably spent, the coming year, in any other way than in superintending the proper establishment of this work in every Conference. We think, further, that our brethren generally will fail to come up to their duty, unless they take hold zealously to carry out the plan indicated. It is no longer a mere experiment. It has proved a brilliant success where it has been really taken hold of intelligently, and worked out properly. But, like every other excellence, hard labor is necessary for its success. The Secretary has the most important duties to perform. An inefficient Secretary will spoil the whole plan. This should be guarded against. We hope the present year will show a mighty advance in this important branch of the work. We know it cannot take the place of religion in the heart. Nothing can. But with this important auxiliary, we have firm faith that the tract and missionary work will prove most important in the great work to be done before the Lord shall come. As my mind runs out on the important work before us, and as I see how all these important agencies are to be blended into one glorious system which shall enable all to be workers together for fallen man’s salvation, I feel to pray that God may greatly bless the tract and missionary work, and that we all may take part in it, and have it said to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”