Save Your Old Papers for Ship Missions.
By S. N. H.
THE importance of our ship work has never been over-estimated. The forcible figure that Inspiration uses to show that the angel's proclamation was to go by land and by sea, is found in the following words: “And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the earth.” This message does not cease until the warning of Rev. 14: 9-12 closes. God's providence brought before the mariners in the days of the apostles a knowledge of the gospel in various ways by the agencies he then used. There are many more traveling by sea at the present time than there were then. These men and women are to be warned of the approaching judgment, and of the day of God. Many who have become interested in present truth are instrumental in carrying the truth to many nations, and tongues, and people, where we have no other means whatever of reaching them. Some of these individuals are stewards of vessels, and those who do not feel that they can at present keep the Sabbath because of their situation, but believe it is truth. Believers who are observing the Sabbath are found in the interior of Africa, South America, British Guiana, and many other places that might be mentioned, where we cannot tell how they first obtained the reading matter. There is no nation but what has interested readers, who have received the publications that had been sent to some port by those who are interested in their distribution. Said one steward sailing from Boston, Mass., who has taken old periodicals by the half barrel to the West India Islands and other points: “I have taken my publications and distributed them among the people, until they would plead with tears in their eyes for more.” At some of these islands they would come to the ship and wait for publications. Having received them from the same vessel before, they eagerly expect it would bring them reading matter again. Shall we withhold our efforts in furthering the cause in this respect, as though it were a waste of means and labor? We know that such is not the feeling of any of our brethren and sisters throughout the country, but that with one universal testimony they would say, “Go forward.” Now if you do not use your own papers in the missionary work, which is far the better way, then we earnestly appeal to you to save all your old periodicals, and if you have no other use for them, send them to those parts of the country where there is a living tract society bordering upon the sea coast. They can use them in the ship missionary work. In this respect, New York City, the New England and the Pacific Conferences, have the advantage. Chicago and New Orleans furnish opportunities for sending the truth by sea. Every steamer on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers should carry our periodicals, books, tracts, etc., for those interested to read. Now is the time to work. There will never be a more favorable opportunity than the present. Many publications can be sold to the officers and sailors; and there is scarcely a vessel that sails the ocean but would take an interest in placing our publications in different ports, if the matter were properly set before them. They363should have an opportunity of doing this wherever the disposition is manifested. Many have embraced the Sabbath, some on the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and others in the Atlantic Ocean, by this means alone. To-day there is a company in British Guiana observing the Sabbath. The light was carried to them by a colporter from the West India Islands, who received the Sabbath by reading an old volume of the Review which was placed on board the ship at New Bedford, Mass., many years ago. It is the overruling providence of God that controls the work of sending the truth by land and sea. The truth and the work is God's, and he has said that “it shall go to every nation, and tongue, and people.” The honest in heart everywhere will be reached by the rays of light of present truth; and while God has in his providence brought into existence this means of carrying the truth to the most distant lands, and raised friends to assist in this work who are not of our faith, it would be a sin for us to neglect such openings as present themselves.