Object of Missionary Work.
By S. N. Haskell
THE object of the missionary work should always be kept before the mind. It is to save souls for whom Christ died. It is not simply to see how many tracts can be distributed, but, with the distribution, to see how much good can be accomplished, how much prejudice can be removed, and how many may become interested in the truth. Efforts may be put forth even in tract distribution that will do more harm than good. If the individual that hands out the reading matter is uncourteous, this will tell against the truth. If the lives of those who visit from house to house are a disgrace to the cause, they cannot leave a proper influence. Those most successful in tract distribution will be, 1. Those who get the heart so imbued with the Spirit of God and love for souls that their own ease and comfort are cheerfully sacrificed for the good of others; 2. Those who, when in conversation upon the subject of truth and religion, are prepared to hand out that tract which is best adapted to the minds of those with whom they converse; 3. Those who understand that the object in conversation should not be to debate some doctrinal point, but to call the attention of the individual to the subject of religion, and who will then let the tract do the advocating of the doctrinal point. Be careful that all your deportment is unexceptionable. You should be of that class “in whose eyes a vile person is contemned,” and by kind acts with a tender heart you will be able to obtain access to the hearts and consciences of men. Then, upon the reputation thus obtained, you can recommend the truth. The heart should first be softened by the love of Christ before the person is fit to labor for others. We should first have an experience in the things of God. A stream will rise no higher than the fountain. And if our souls have never drawn draughts from salvation’s well, how can we impart that salvation to others? If the rays of light from Heaven do not shine into our own hearts, they cannot be reflected upon others’. Therefore the scattering of reading matter is a means to bring about a certain end, and not the end itself. A person might stand in the public highways and hand out a tract to every passer-by, without note or comment. We do not say but some might be reached in that manner; but we are not prepared to say that we think the time has come for a move of that kind to be made, unless it be at the close of discourses in which the word has made deep impressions upon the minds of those who have listened. It should ever be remembered that judicious labor is one object of the system of tract distribution and missionary work. Another object is to bring every true lover of the cause of truth into a position where he can do something to help forward the work of God. More important movements in the line of distributing reading matter are to be made in the future than have as yet been made, and the importance of a system whereby each Conference, and all parts of the same Conference, can make the same efforts at the same time will be more fully realized when these are undertaken. In fact, unity of action is indispensable. This cause is one, and it is the angel of God that is leading his people forward. Therefore, to understand his leading, and to take those steps that will tell for the general interest of the cause of God, is of the utmost importance. It is a bad position for a company in an army to be in to be exposed to the cross fire of the enemy. There is no danger of getting into this position when the whole army moves together. The danger arises when a company or small portion of the army becomes severed from the main body. It gives the enemy great advantage over a company to get them in range of “cross fire.” Were one company to start out alone, they might surprise the enemy, and for a time make quite an inroad upon them; but the enemy would soon gather up and take advantage of their isolated position. Even now important moves are being made in this work. This country is to be flooded with reading matter. There should be colporteurs in every city in this country. They should be men and women who fear God—those who feel the burden of souls upon them. They should be individuals of good judgment who will understand how to conduct themselves so as to leave a favorable impression, who will speak of points of difference in doctrine with discretion, and who will leave with families and individuals such reading matter as will be best adapted to their wants. There are other enterprises connected with this cause, all of which should be brought up together. If any branch of the Tract Society should take any one point and carry it to an extreme, and thus use their means and influence to carry one particular point to the exclusion of others, then a reaction would take place, and discouragement and confusion would be the result. It would be like getting under the cross fire of the enemy. The world must be warned; and we should take an equal interest in every branch of present truth. New enterprises should receive special attention until they occupy the same position as those which have been longer in operation. The entire body of Seventh-day Adventists should move together in the various steps taken. We appeal to all our brethren and sisters to take hold of this work in every department as never before. Reading rooms should have our periodicals. The standard of truth must be raised in all our cities and villages. The efforts we have made, such as placing the periodicals in twenty thousand families where they have reached not less than a hundred thousand readers, the distribution of from fifty to a hundred thousand almanacs a year, and the placing of our best bound books in a thousand public libraries and reading rooms, are only a field drill. We have thus tested the strength of systematic labor, and learned how we can work together. We are now being called upon to do something besides skirmish and drill. We have been in the preparatory work, just getting ready to do something. We can begin to form some idea of the nature of the battle which lies before us. The call of Bro. White in reference to the SIGNS should be promptly responded to by every Tract Society in the country. What are the officers of our Missionary Societies doing in response to this call? Are the presidents of the societies laying out their plans with the directors, that all our brethren may at once enter heartily upon this work of canvassing for the SIGNS? Do not wait when these calls are made, but immediately respond. There are a thousand men and women in this country who could procure fifty subscribers each for any of our periodicals within one month’s time if they would take hold of this work with the same persevering effort manifested by those who sell patent rights. Let the work be entered upon at once, and the names come in immediately. Do your business through your Society. But to every such call we want a hearty response. We believe that this will be given. There are hearts that are true to the cause of Christ wherever the truth has been received. Let it be understood that this does not exclude the individual efforts of those who may not be connected with the Tract Society. To all such we extend a cordial invitation to co-operate with us in this work. We recommend, to the careful consideration of all, Bro. White’s articles on this subject, which have recently appeared in the REVIEW. We should never forget that it is the object of the Tract and Missionary Societies to reach others outside of our numbers, and not to furnish ourselves with reading matter. Were an individual to join the Tract Society simply to furnish himself with reading matter, this act would show at once that he had not the right view of the nature and object of the Society. We do not say that if a person makes a little sacrifice of labor or means to-day in behalf of this work that this is to be the last of it. Far from it. He should sacrifice to-day, to-morrow, and all the way through, as long as there are souls to save. There should be one continued effort to save others. Life is of no account unless we can sow seeds in it that will bring forth fruit in the kingdom of God.