A STATEMENT OF FACTS by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 10, 1877

A STATEMENT OF FACTS.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

We have heard nothing but good reports thus far from those who have taken a club of the SIGNS. We have heard directly from but a few, but we have yet to learn of a single club where they have taken hold of this work systematically, where they are not already seeing fruit of their labor. Not that in every instance individuals have embraced the truth; but an interest has been awakened in the minds of many. From one to nine are reported as having embraced the truth by the efforts of certain clubs; and these, too, within the last two months. This interest was first awakened by reading the SIGNS since the commencement of the present volume. Interested readers are found everywhere. The people are becoming interested in the subjects of the Sabbath and signs of the times as never before. No doubt the condition of the world and state of society have something to do with this; but it is evident that the Spirit of God is moving on hearts, awakening a spirit of inquiry, thus preparing the way for the solemn warning of Rev. 14:9-12, to finish its work.

Another encouraging feature is this: Those using the SIGNS in the manner above mentioned find that they can use more than they can pay for. As they become accustomed to the work of finding interested readers, they find in a few weeks' time that they can use twice the number with greater ease than at first. Then as people become interested, and embrace the truth, those taking a part in such labor are inspired to labor with far more earnestness and devotion. Those churches which have moved forward in this enterprise find their spiritual condition much improved. An active interest is awakened to labor for others, among those who have never felt before that there was anything that they could do.

It can be readily seen that if twenty copies of the SIGNS can be used weekly by one church, twenty times as much can be accomplished as though they used but one. The world is full of people, and the warning must be brought before them. And when God prepares their hearts to read, it becomes our duty to place in their hands the reading matter. God's providence has not only prepared the public sentiment for the spread of the truth, but also given us the publications to bring these truths before the mind. It is a fact that the present volume of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is awakening an interest in the unbeliever that has not been witnessed in any previous period in the history of this work, or with any publications that have ever before been issued by Seventh-day Adventists. Those who are neglecting the present opportunity of clubbing the SIGNS, and thus laboring in a systematic manner to get the truth before others, are letting pass golden opportunities, which they will regret when the day of Judgment reveals the opportunities that were given them of using their talents so that when the Lord comes he might receive his own with usury.

The Battle Creek church has live members in it; and the manner in which they have taken hold of this work has infused life into others, so that the interest in this work has been on the increase, as seen both in numbers of missionary workers and the desire to perform more labor of the kind. When the 153 copies of the SIGNS are distributed to its members, it does not average two to an individual. Some go home without any. We hear from all quarters, “What shall we do? Can't we have more papers?” This church alone can use at the present time with ease five hundred copies of the SIGNS. And if the numbers and the desire to labor should continue to increase as it does in other places, within a few weeks they would want at least one thousand copies. They have already over twelve hundred addresses, mostly carefully selected names; and over five hundred of them are addresses of reading people in the South. The number, instead of diminishing, increases weekly.

The letters read every Wednesday night, which have been received during the week previous, are enough to melt hearts of stone if they have ever been softened by present truth. Ministers and teachers are becoming interested, and scores are actually begging for more reading matter. Some promise to pay in the fall; others when they draw their salary as teachers; while there are many who hold out no inducement to pay, because of poverty, and yet feel as though they must have the reading.

The secretary of the General Tract Society is receiving letters; and the testimony is of the same strain, “We want reading matter, especially the SIGNS.” Judging from the present prospect, as many as one thousand copies of the SIGNS can be used in this branch of the work outside of the Conference limits within one year. They will be sent to all parts of the world where the English language is spoken. Also there will be calls for the Danish, Swedish, French, and German periodicals, wherever those languages are spoken. Much of this expense will have to be met by friends of the cause. Now we ask, What shall be done? Shall these cases be met? Ten dollars where there is one now invested in the missionary work would not meet the demand and fill the calls for spreading the truth.

These statements of facts are not made impulsively, nor unwarranted by circumstances. When our people unitedly and systematically take hold of this work, clubbing our periodicals, sending out our tract distributors to canvass cities and villages, they will find that there is no end to the openings for the truth.

S. N. Haskell.