Tract and Missionary Work in Michigan and other States.
By S. N. Haskell
From June 6 to July 6 we spent in Michigan, holding meetings in six different districts. In this State, as in other Conferences, there has been a lack of interest in the tract and missionary work, owing in part to the fact that too limited a view has been taken of it, and that its importance has not been realized. The object of the Tract and Missionary Societies is to cultivate all those principles of the gospel which were illustrated in the character of our divine Lord and Master, and to adopt such a system as will enable all to work in harmony for the upbuilding of the cause of Christ upon the earth. It is also the object of these societies from time to time to call especial attention to those points wherein there is a liability of our becoming deficient in the work of God. If we only have in view to scatter a few tracts, there will of necessity be a reaction; for in a short time, this may become an old story, especially if no immediate fruits are seen. But the object should be the salvation of souls for whom Christ died; and to accomplish this, the heart should be so filled with the love of God that there will be a willingness on the part of the individual to sacrifice means, ease, comfort, and to become a servant of servants. Then the distribution of tracts will be only one means to accomplish the desired object. The whole soul should be drawn out for the salvation of others, and for a spirit of adapting ourselves to others’ necessities, thus becoming all things to all men so if possible we may be the means of saving some. There is one kind of labor which is very much neglected, and yet no Tract and Missionary Society can prosper without performing this very labor. It is looking up, and doing for, the worthy poor in our midst. The Saviour says, “Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good;” and in the Judgment, to those who are saved, it will be said, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This care for the worthy poor is an important part of pure and undefiled religion before God the Father. Oftentimes, to help the poor to help themselves is the best assistance that can be rendered. We should not wait until they come to our doors, begging for assistance, but we should look them up and should take an unselfish interest in their welfare. Thus we may be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame, a father to the poor, and thus the cause we know not, search out. Who feels the burden of this work and realizes that it is labor for Christ? We do not say, Take the burden of all the poor that can be found. The Saviour says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” and in Matt. 12:48-50, the Saviour defines who are his brethren. See also Matt. 10:40-42. Present distress may be relieved in almost any case, but the world has institutions for its poor, and so have different denominations; and had God’s people always done their duty in this respect, there never would have been a single orphan asylum among them, for the people themselves would have been an asylum. “Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house.” But when the hearts of God’s professed people become so covetous and worldly that they cannot take the burden of this, a few build an asylum and take such responsibility and thus bring upon themselves the blessing of God in a wonderful manner. The Tract and Missionary Society will make minute men of all members that will enter upon this work. Every Conference should know all the worthy poor within its limits. Each Director should be acquainted with all such cases in his district, and every member should be interested in the welfare of the orphans and widows and poor. Such cases can be reported to the Director, and if homes should be found, or such assistance rendered as should demand the attention of the society, at the general quarterly meetings the Board of Directors can decide what steps ought to be taken. Visiting the individuals whose periodicals have been discontinued, will give an excellent opportunity to learn who of them need assistance. Therefore we recommend visiting these persons instead of writing, even if it does cost labor and some expense, for worthy cases are the last ones to make their wants known; but they will suffer in silence, and perhaps, like the widow in the gospel, will give all their living to the cause they so dearly love. This system will prevent rash moves and will save the cause from bearing the burden of doing for those who are unworthy; for “in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” It is the hearts of the people that must be reached if we would do them good; and this is not done by lowering the standard of piety, and sacrificing the peculiar features of our faith, and becoming conformed to the world. Each religious denomination was peculiar in its early history. God was with these denominations until they began to feel they were too radical, and must conform to the world to save the multitude. The result is everywhere seen. Ichabod (the glory is departed) is written upon almost every religious denomination in the land. Piety which manifests itself in an unselfish life, is the light of the world. There are hundreds among us of both sexes who can so educate themselves as to become successful nurses, and enter families when in affliction, and render that assistance that would gain their confidence; then, by judiciously introducing the truth, souls might be saved. I know of entire families who have thus been brought to acknowledge the truth, and to-day are rejoicing in its light. The true missionary spirit embraces every good word and work. It is to seek for all such openings where the Spirit of Christ can be exemplified, and thus recommend the faith of the gospel. It places every member on picket-duty. It makes a specialty of every principle of the Christian religion. The reporting system and the quarterly meetings are designed to keep constantly before the mind all these practical duties; hence, extra efforts should be made to attend them, and to learn how successfully to carry into practice these principles. “He that winneth souls is wise,” says Solomon. And with all his wisdom, “he sought to find out acceptable words.” He knew the importance of speaking right words at the right time; hence he says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word spoken in season, how good is it!” “The tongue of the just is as choice silver.” “The lips of the righteous feed many.” And we find many like expressions, which show how forcible are right words. Another feature of the tract and missionary work is the system of raising means, which makes this work a source of financial strength to the cause of truth. Every institution among us is owned by the people; every enterprise is sustained by the people. Men called of God to lead out in this work, and thus acknowledged by the friends of the cause, should be seconded by all whose sympathies are with present truth. This is done, first, by a godly life which will bring the work into favor with the people. Secondly, by our prayers that God’s blessing may rest upon them and their efforts. Thirdly, by our means to carry forward such enterprises as will tell for the advancement of this work. The system which is now being adopted, if carried out, will, at any time, call the attention of every man, woman, and child, to every enterprise connected with this cause, thus giving them an opportunity to pledge and to pay what they please within any quarter, to aid in the work; the director acting as collector and treasurer during that time. (See Constitution). At the general quarterly meeting, the matter is laid before the brethren and sisters present, and there it commences. Each director goes home prepared to set the matter before the friends in his district, explaining the utility of such a move, and giving all an opportunity to do as God has prospered them. Here is a part the children can act. They should be educated to take an interest in every branch of this work, and that their means from one penny upward will go to help make up the sum that is necessary to carry forward the enterprise. This places before them an object in life and awakens in their young minds an interest in the cause of God. This work is not the work of man, but of God, and whenever the cloud rises, and the trumpet gives a certain sound, all the friends of the cause in different parts of the land will move forward like a well-disciplined army. If the work in which we are engaged means anything it means everything. The world is to be warned, and steps must be taken to speedily enlarge our facilities for spreading this truth, and all the people should sympathize in their hearts with every advance step. Michigan should lead off in this work. Here, the institutions are located, and the numbers in this Conference are nearly three times those of any other Conference. Their financial strength is therefore nearly thrice that of any other Conference, reckoning their wealth the same as in other Conferences, and certainly it does not come behind. We expect it will respond to the effort that is now being made. Sister Anna Driscoll, the present Secretary, will write to every Director in the State, notifying them what particular steps they are expected to take between now and camp-meeting. Let the officers set an example of sacrificing of their time and means, and the people will partake of the same spirit. The cause must rise, and now is the time to let it be known, that our hearts beat in the fullest sympathy with this work. S. N. HASKELL.