To the Tract and Missionary Societies.
By Stephen N. Haskell
We have reached the time when it does not require an argument to convince our people of the utility of the tract and missionary work, for it has been demonstrated in every Conference where it has been taken hold of with a spirit of sacrifice. Churches have been raised up and united with Conferences. Scores of individuals have embraced the truth as the direct result of this missionary effort. Yet however good the system may be that is adopted, it will require an earnest effort to make the missionary enterprise a success. Every branch of the work should be deemed important, and not left until it is seen to be a success. Every director should be acquainted with each member in his district, and every lawful means should be employed to have the sympathies of each individual member enlisted in the work. He should make himself acquainted with the circumstances of every poor person who reveres God and keeps his commandments. Not an orphan child that the providence of God has thrown among us should ever be left to fall into the hands of the world. Many such questions will be perplexing, and the judgment of the board of directors will be needed, but God125will give grace and wisdom if he is properly sought unto. With a heart full of the love of God, neighbors and friends should be visited, and at the present time especial efforts should be made to obtain subscribers for our periodicals. The REVIEW is a paper which should be in every religious family in the land. The first of November is the time when another trial trip is to commence—six months for only fifty cents. Every member of our tract societies should seize upon this important offer, and send it to at least one in the circle of their acquaintance; and from one to ten, twenty, fifty, or one hundred even, should be sent by individuals to persons who would weekly peruse its pages with interest. Many Sabbath-keepers have loaned money, given it to unworthy persons, and spent it where they can expect no reward in this world or the world to come. Now is a grand opportunity to redeem the time. Redeem your character before God, as a faithful steward, by enlisting your sympathies more fully in the cause of Christ, or Heaven will frown upon us. It is safe to invest in the cause of truth. Every director should see that each member is taking hold of this matter. New England should send in at least 500 new names to be added to the list, with $250; New York, 1,000 with $500; Maine, 300 names with $150, and so on throughout all the various missionary societies in the country. This work should be entered upon at once. Let not one week or one day pass without a commencement in this direction. The first of November will soon be upon us, and the names and money from every Conference should be sent in previous to that time. This business can be done through the directors, and thus by the tract societies. There is no time to spare, and none should delay entering immediately upon this work. Then there is the Health Reformer—a journal of priceless value for the purpose for which it is designed. There are scores whose lives have been prolonged by living out the principles advocated by it. Thousands of dollars have been saved in doctors' fees, and a vast amount of physical suffering has been avoided. I state what I know to be facts. There is no intelligent, candid family if they will read it, but that can be benefited by it. Many times, one article in a single Reformer is worth its price for a year. The articles on “Sugar,” in the July, August, and September numbers, are well worthy of preservation. This excellent journal might be introduced into thousands of families during this fall and winter. The long evenings have come again, and should be improved in visiting our neighbors and calling their attention to its teachings, and thus obtaining subscribers for it. The liberal offer for health publications for every subscriber obtained is worthy of consideration. Please examine carefully the REVIEW of July 22, 1873, the article, “Our Periodicals.” Let this offer also be taken hold of at once by all the members of the tract societies. Do your business through the director, and he, through the secretary of the society, then at each general quarterly meeting there can be a quantity of health tracts taken home by each director and thus distributed to each individual who is entitled to them by obtaining subscribers for the Reformer. The T. and M. Society of New England will order a quantity of health publications for this purpose to be had at their next general quarterly meeting. This does not prevent others laboring outside of this system if they wish. The Instructor should not be neglected. If the work in which we are engaged is of God and is to go to many peoples, nations, and tongues, then these various periodicals which teach the same should have a wider circulation, and those who assist in obtaining these subscribers are helping forward the work of present truth. There are scores of individuals, both men and women, among us who could, if they would put forth an effort, obtain hundreds of subscribers for our periodicals. All this is missionary work as much as the distribution of tracts. It opens the way for tracts. It prepares the mind for the truth. It interests and leads out the individual to meditate upon those things which will prepare him for the day of God, which is just before us. We expect there will be an effort put forth, commencing immediately this coming fall and winter, such as never before characterized our people in this direction. It is our prayer that God may inspire all hearts with a true missionary spirit, and a zeal commensurate with such important truths as we profess, and thus we be co-workers with the angels of God, and in the end have it said unto us, “Because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” S. N. HASKELL.