p. 62 | REPORT FROM VERMONT by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 22, 1877

REPORT FROM VERMONT.

By S. N. Haskell

I ARRIVED at Berkshire, Vt., Sabbath morning, Jan. 20, in season for the Sabbath meeting, after a tedious ride from Battle Creek of about sixty hours. Since this meeting, we have visited Bordoville, Richford, Brownington, Wolcott, Johnson, Jericho, Bristol, Andover, and Jamaica. Our meetings at each appointment, excepting where we remained over Sabbath and first-day, have necessarily been very short; but the sweet, melting spirit manifested in nearly every company visited, evinced the fact that the Lord drew near, and was willing to help his people.

The weather since coming to this State has been very favorable. No drifting storms have prevented our filling any of our appointments. The storms seemed to go westward the week we came east. In this we have been highly favored, and have felt to thank the Lord, as it gave our brethren the privilege of attending generally. Eld. Hutchins accompanied me with his team as far as Bristol, where we took the cars for Andover. The brethren in Vermont are making some efforts to rise with the message. The cause of present truth is very precious to many hearts in this Conference.

In each company we have visited they have cheerfully increased the figures on their s. B. to nearly double that of previous years. The aggregate advance has been over five hundred dollars on less than one thousand dollars that was represented by those who were at the meeting. I have no doubt but every cent of this will be paid. In many cases it has been from brethren of means, who have put down their figures on their property according to the Bible plan. In some instances, the brethren placed their property on the s. B. book two thousand dollars more than they had previously done; yet in many cases, especially of young men whose capital is in their physical strength and ability to acquire means, there should be a still farther advance in their figures from where they now stand. If those who were not present at the meetings increase their figures in the same ratio as those who were present, the s. B. in Vermont will be at least two-thirds more than it has been formerly. With a few individual exceptions, the vote has been unanimous to raise a sum equal to one-third their s. B. for the support of the Tract Society.

There has been a failure in this State, as in others, in the manner of paying their s. B. Many wait until the end of the year, then find their circumstances such that it is almost impossible to raise the money, and they feel it a burden to pay the required sum, and in some instances wish to be released. If a person has been unfortunate and sick, it is very proper that the brethren should consider such, and assist where it is necessary. But where this is not the case, and the pledges on s. B. have not been more than the Bible plan, it is a question that lies between them and God alone. The apostle Paul has spoken very definitely upon this point. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him.”

In the Jewish economy, it was as important to take of the “first fruits” as it was to give at all. As soon as Abram obtained the spoils, he gave “tithes of all.” Jacob entered into a solemn covenant with the Lord that if the Lord would give him “bread to eat, and raiment to put on,” of all that God should give him he would surely give the tenth unto the Lord. Gen. 28:20–22. If all would pay their pledges to the Lord out of what they receive, as they receive it, there would be no trouble in paying their s. B. pledges. This is testified to by scores that have tried it. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Prov. 3:9, 10.

There is also an increasing interest in the T. and M. work in this State. A commendable effort has been put forth in this Conference to sell the Family Health Almanac. It has resulted in returning to their treasury as much as the cost of them, and the general testimony of those who have taken hold to sell them is that many more could have been sold had they have had them sooner. Seven thousand almanacs for 1878 will be as readily disposed of as were the five thousand this year, if they can have them by the first of October.

A good degree of interest has been taken in clubbing for the SIGNS, to be used in loaning to their neighbors, and sending to friends and others far and near, to find interested readers and to obtain subscribers. Some living alone in villages have taken eight copies. In some instances, two, living near together, would take eight copies or more. At some of our meetings, there have been thirty-seven copies taken, while those present expected this number would be much increased when others were seen and the object set before them.

A special interest was taken in this branch of missionary labor at Bristol and Berkshire. To dispose of these every week during the year 1877, which we believe will be done, will not only send rays of light to thousands of families, but lead those taking the responsibility of this to much prayer, close practical thinking and planning, that will impart an experience in the cause of God, which cannot be estimated by dollars and cents.

This plan is much better than to gather up names as formerly. (1) By loaning and calling the attention of the individuals to some particular article, an interest can be awakened, which otherwise would not be. (2) When a person thus becomes interested, not unusually he will pay for the paper, and become a permanent subscriber. (3) When an individual thus becomes interested, and either from financial embarrassment or otherwise he is unable to pay for the SIGNS, the Tract Society can send the paper to him with much hope of success. (4) Ten times as much ground will be canvassed during the year, and with ten times the effect as by the old method, for it lays a weekly burden upon those who take the responsibility of it, so that it is not a work of a month or two, but the year through. And such continued, sacrificing labor for the work of Christ will connect the soul with Heaven so that “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword,” cannot separate the soul from the love of Christ.

About four hundred premiums have already been taken in this state, and if the same interest be followed up for a few months to come as is now manifested in canvassing for the SIGNS and REFORMER, this Conference will not come behind in filling its apportionment of names with paying subscribers, and ere long there will be a harvest of souls in the old Green Mountain State. S. N. HASKELL.