Battle Creek in Earnest.
By C. W. S.
The subject of T. and M. work was presented to us last Wednesday evening by Eld. S. N. Haskell, and the plan of clubbing for the SIGNS, and the manner of disposing of the papers, and obtaining names and interested readers was made plain. All being agreed that more should be done by this church, another meeting was appointed for last evening, April 8. At this meeting, Eld. Haskell spoke further upon our duty to labor earnestly and with system, to place the truth before the people. Finally a resolution was adopted to take more active measures to effect the proposed increase in the circulation of the SIGNS and REFORMER by forming a Vigilant Society, whose plan of operation should be to take a certain number of copies of the SIGNS and REFORMER and labor by corresponding and visiting to find interested readers for them, meeting each week for prayer and consultation. The number of copies of the SIGNS which this church should take for missionary work, according to the apportionment made by the director of this district, is 136. They had already taken 80, and 121 copies of the REFORMER. At this meeting, by a full vote, the society decided to order 86 copies more of the SIGNS and 50 of the REFORMER. The next point to be settled was the time for holding the weekly meeting. Sunday evening was suggested; but on that evening the district prayer meetings are held. Finally it was suggested that the meetings be held in connection with the general prayer meeting of Wednesday evening, and that they begin with a season of prayer for the success of the effort, and wisdom in making it. This suggestion was adopted. The way to take hold of the work now seemed so clear that every one seemed anxious to take a part; and no sooner was the meeting dismissed than the members began to express the wish that more copies of the SIGNS had been ordered, whereupon one good brother of means and with a large heart said that if the Society would make the order 150 copies instead of 86, he would give $100. The offer was accepted, and to-day the order was sent to Oakland for 153 copies, making 233 copies of the SIGNS and 171 of the REFORMER taken by this church. The church at Battle Creek numbers about 275. A good many of the members are residing away from Battle Creek, and out of the State. Only 150 of them belong to the Tract Society, and only a portion of these are really working members. Now it is the design of this Society, not only to engage every one of its members, but to invite every member of the church to join the Society and take an active part in the work. We trust in the Lord that we shall be able to tell you of good results before long.