THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.
By S. N. HASKELL
NEVER before have there been openings where the direct results of missionary labor can be seen as at the present time. About five hundred ministers and teachers in the South have received our publications, from New England alone, and of this number there are from seventy-five to one hundred who have become interested in present truth. All of these are anxious for reading matter,—old papers, anything that treats upon these subjects. They want them, not only to read themselves, but to distribute among those who can read and especially for Sunday-schools. Many of these are presiding elders, who have charge of from six to fifty-two churches and Sunday-schools. Openings for presenting the truth in some of our large cities are presenting themselves in a manner which is without a parallel in the history of this work. In one of our eastern cities, one of the most influential and wealthy families has embraced the Sabbath, and a goodly number of others have become so deeply interested that they have seriously talked of erecting a house of worship, providing they could have a minister to labor among them. In another city, in one church a minister, elder, two deacons, and three others have embraced our views, and this principally from reading the SIGNS. There is to-day more work like the above opening before us in the New England States than ten of our most active ministers can perform, while there are opportunities to interest people, by correspondence and otherwise, for all who will engage in this work. This illustrates how the work is going everywhere, to a greater or less extent. The work of the General Tract Society is opening as never before. With a little effort, our publications can be furnished, free of expense, to every sea-port, every island of the sea that is visited by vessels, where there are reading rooms. In short, there is no end to the openings which the providence of God is presenting whereby we can give the light to the world. If men and women could but realize what they can do, and what God has called them to do, there is not a company of Seventh-day Adventists in the country that would not go to work in some manner to spread the truth of the third angel’s message. The Vigilant Missionary Societies are doing a great work where they are conducted with a proper spirit and in a proper manner. Our colporteurs are also bringing scores into the truth. Canvassing for our periodicals is as important a branch of the work as any other in the plan of God in leading men and women to embrace these saving truths.