Shall We Have Them? by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 4, 1875

Shall We Have Them?

By S. N. Haskell

SHALL we have the 30,000 new subscribers for The Voice of Truth and Health Reformer including the Advent Tidende. At present about one-third of this number that have obtained, and this to a great extent has been accomplished by a few of the Conference Tract Societies. Some of the Conferences speak very encouragingly about this work, while others are silent. Some have more than half filled the number suggested to their Conference, while others have done comparatively nothing. One State Tract Society has sent in but twenty-five names on this call; another, twenty-nine. I know no excuse for this only a lack of interest, as one of these Conferences has nearly a thousand dollars pledged that can be used to pay for them.

Much has been said about obtaining paying subscribers or those who would donate something toward sustaining these periodicals, as this would secure an interest on the part of the subscriber to read them. There are thousands who would consider it a privilege to donate something, from enough to pay the postage to the full price of the periodical. Experience has proved this to be so. And no doubt there are thousands who would read these periodicals with profit, who under present circumstances, would not feel free to pay anything. All such should have them. We want interested readers, men and women of moral worth, pay or no pay. There are men and women in each Conference who have five hundred and even a thousand dollars to give to an enterprise like this when they see the work move forward in a judicious manner. Then sums all the way down to the pennies from children would be freely donated.

The truth is to find its way into every dark corner of the land and in every part of the civilized world, and now is the time to labor. We cannot all preach. Neither is it at all proper to enter into boisterous discussions or conversations in stores, cars, or street-corners, or other public places, to call the attention of the people to the truth; but quietly get the truth before those who have some sense of sin by placing the reading matter in their families, and in all such places where it will be read with interest. The truth accompanied by God’s Spirit will work its own way to the heart.

We have encouraging words and encouraging results from those Conferences who have taken hold of this work with faith and courage. One sister in Minnesota who had three small children obtained as the result of a few days’ labor in her own neighborhood forty paying subscribers for The Voice of Truth. Cities, towns, villages, and neighborhoods, should be canvassed by the proper persons, families prayed with, and in a judicious manner have the attention of the people called to these solemn truths. Then to present a copy of our periodicals one or both of them, is one successful way of removing prejudice and obtaining subscribers. It should be done in faith and in the fear of God. There are thousands among us who could in this manner procure from five to fifty names of those who would rejoice to read upon present truth, and this could be done within less than a month’s time, did our brethren and sisters feel the burden of this work.

The following are among the encouraging words received from some of those Conferences that are taking an active part in this work. Eld. Grant, President of the Minnesota Conference and Tract Society says, “A little more time and we shall fill our quota. Only a few districts are behind.” Elder Olsen, head of the Wisconsin Tract Society, backed up by his directors, says, “The names will be furnished in due time.” No doubt is expressed by the brethren in New York. The president of the Conference assures us, “You may depend on us.”

New England reports, “No difficulty here, only a little more time.” Michigan, which voted to furnish 10,000 new subscribers for the periodicals, has some districts which have nearly filled their quota, while others report scarcely anything done in this direction. But the officers, at their late quarterly meeting at St. Charles, backed up by the brethren and sisters present, determined to make a new strike in this direction. Vermont is making a stir in the right direction. The Indiana division is in the field. But how is it with Illinois, Maine, Ohio, and other Conferences? A few weeks more and the busy season will have come. Shall we not have these names before that time?

Who upon reading these lines will immediately fall into line and procure twenty-five names of those who will read with interest The Voice of Truth or the Reformer for one year? How many will obtain fifteen names? How many will consider themselves good for ten interested readers? Who will enter the ranks for five? And will there be a single member of any or all of the Tract Societies that will not at least procure one name for the Reformer and one for The Voice of Truth? We appeal to the officers of the Tract Societies in every Conference to call their force into line and make one general rally. First visit your closet and seek the Spirit of God. Then with a heart full of tenderness visit your neighbors and work for God.

Let not your zeal in the cause of Christ abate nor your ardor lose its fervor. Press the battle to the gate of the enemy, and with the blessing of God the victory is ours. The day of Judgment is upon us. God’s providence is preparing the way before us. His spirit bids us move. And now is the time to lay up a good foundation against the time to come that you may lay hold upon eternal life. Send a list of your names to your director and he will see that they are forwarded to the Office through your State secretary of your Tract Society.

S. N. HASKELL.