All Along the Line by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1875

All Along the Line.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

No individual who reads our periodicals can fail to see that the cause of present truth is spreading more rapidly than at any period in its previous history. In every part of this country we hear of souls embracing the truth. Cheering reports are received from the most distant parts of the world. Individuals of every nationality are seen taking their stand upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Nothing is more clearly demonstrated to the believer in the “third angel’s message” of Rev. 14:9-12, than the fact that the Lord is preparing the way for the earth to be lightened with the glory of the “mighty angel,” of Rev. 18.

Reference to the state of the cause in one of our Conferences will give us some idea of the condition of the work all over the field. Wherever a spirit of sacrificing labor has been continued for months or years, the fruit of it is now becoming apparent.

Two years ago this spring, the brethren in Minnesota organized their Tract and Missionary Society. Their circumstances at that time were such that it required much sacrificing zeal to successfully start and carry through the organization. Paying up their delinquency on the periodicals, purchasing publications, and such expenses as would necessarily arise, taxed them pecuniarily. This they cheerfully met. Then circumstances made it necessary that their ministerial help, which the General Conference had sent them should go to other fields. Thus they were left to their own resources.

When the call was made for 10,000 new subscribers for our periodicals on a trial volume one year ago last December, this Conference was among the first to fill its quota. Many of the brethren and sisters then began the missionary labor in earnest. Visiting families, and praying with them where it was proper, constituted a share of their missionary work. When lectures were given in a community they did not leave the few who embraced the truth for the devouring wolves to destroy before they had become established; but some brother of experience would visit them from house to house, assist them in erecting the family altar and set before them in a judicious manner the moral and physical effects of the use of tobacco, tea, coffee, &c. When one left, another visited them. This gave them a change of gifts, thus saving the work of God from bearing too much the stamp of individualism, and left those who could give lectures free to enter new fields. In this way a healthy tone is given to the new churches; and they partake of the same missionary spirit. The fruit of this course soon became manifest. Over one hundred have embraced the truth in this Conference since the camp-meeting; and an interest to read and hear upon these truths is more or less apparent all over the State.

To illustrate the effect of this kind of labor we relate the following: One brother went out in a back settlement to canvass for The Voice of Truth. There were nineteen families in that vicinity in which the REVIEW had been read, and they were anxious to hear on these subjects. They eagerly subscribed for The Voice. But how did they become acquainted with the REVIEW? Some person unknown to the receiver had sent the trial volume last winter to one of these families and they had become interested in it; and when the subscription expired they felt that they could not do without the paper, and therefore renewed their subscription and loaned it to the other families.

At another place where the REVIEW had been sent, an interest had been awakened in these truths. A brother passing through the neighborhood, left some tracts, and, by their urgent request, an appointment to speak to them. For some cause he failed to meet his engagement. The friends, however, came together. Having no minister, they appointed one of their number to read to them a Sabbath tract which he had left. A short time after this, some lectures were given, and now there are forty keeping the Sabbath who meet to worship God. About twenty-five miles from this place there is another company of forty that embraced the Sabbath under similar circumstances.

A man and his wife came over forty miles to attend our meeting at Grove Lake. They had seen the appointment in the REVIEW. She had commenced to keep the Sabbath, but was not acquainted with the brethren and sisters. Before the meeting closed two others took their stand to keep the commandments of God. Bro. Grant, who is constantly traveling through the State, holding quarterly meetings with the various churches, says that it is not an uncommon thing for one or more to come to the meeting for the first time, having seen the notice in the REVIEW. In some instances the REVIEW is the only reading matter they have ever seen, and by reading it these persons have commenced to keep the Bible Sabbath, have erected the family altar,

thrown away their tobacco, and commenced to serve the Lord. Thus it is where the missionary work has been carried forward with steady perseverance.

A director writes in his report as follows: “A brother gave some tracts to a family in the city who promised to read, but after he left they were thrown out of the window into the street. A family who were moving picked up these tracts, read them, and are now rejoicing in the truth.” Similar instances are constantly coming to notice. What is the meaning of all this, if it be not that God is preparing honest hearts everywhere to receive his sacred truth?

The Tract Societies in this State are making an effort to fill their quota of names. The sisters, as well as the brethren, are taking an active part in this work. One, who is a widow with three small children, took her little boy to drive the oxen (for this was all the team they had), visited her neighbors through the cold and snow, and in a short time secured forty paying subscribers for The Voice.

Could all realize the importance of this work and of the time in which we live, there would not be a Conference nor a single district in a Conference, but would make every effort to procure readers for our periodicals and publications wherever their influence extends. God is preparing hearts all over the world to receive his truth. He has committed the work of imparting this light and truth to his church. Now is the time to work. Neglect the present golden moments, and we meet with an irreparable loss.

“This life to toil is given; And he improves it best Who seeks by patient labor To enter into rest.”

The brethren in Minnesota Conference have some courage in God, and they assure us that we can count on them to fill their quota of names for The Voice of Truth and Health Reformer. They want the privilege of doing it. If they continue in the same sacrificing spirit of labor, and take unselfish and enlarged views of the work of God, they will grow strong, and be successful in spreading the light of God’s truth. We long for the time when more of this spirit will be diffused through all the ranks of our people, whether they are in Conference organizations or scattered in different parts of the world. S. N. HASKELL.