SCRAPS FROM THE MISSIONARY WORKERS.
By M. L. Huntley
The Vigilant Society at Battle Creek is taking four hundred copies of the SIGNS regularly. There are about a hundred members here who are actively engaged in sending out the SIGNS to different parts of this country, and to Europe, Asia, and Africa, besides some who are canvassing the city with Annuals, Plain Facts, the HEALTH REFORMER, etc., etc. They are weekly receiving letters like those from which the following extracts are taken. These have been recently received. The following is from West Virginia. After ordering books for which he sends the money, the gentleman writes: “A word or two more. If a preacher could be sent here, much good could be done. Some weeks ago some friend sent me a few tracts. I began to loan them, and give away some of the papers. One brother from the Christian church has taken his stand with us for the Lord’s Sabbath; others are halting. Do send us a preacher.” A lady from North New Portland, Maine, says: “I am interested in reading the SIGNS. I am one who wishes Bible instruction. Inclosed find one dollar. Send the paper as long as that will pay for it. I thank you for your kindness in sending the paper. God bless you in your work for him.” The following is from Arkansas: “I have been keeping the Sabbath for three months. Mrs. Chapman [one of the workers at Battle Creek] has been furnishing me with papers and tracts. I shall ever feel thankful to her for the information I have thus obtained.” The following is from Alabama, in response to a letter accompanied with the REVIEW and SIGNS: “I am delighted with my books and papers. I am going to give to the Lord one-tenth of my income during the next year. I want the SIGNS. I can hardly keep my REVIEW until I have read it, my neighbors are so anxious to read it. Inclosed find one dollar.” The work is not confined to Battle Creek, but in every part of the field where the missionary work is engaged in, letters are received of the same character as the above. A missionary worker in the South, a sister who is a librarian, and takes eight copies of the SIGNS, informs us that three years ago she sent a package of old REVIEWS and some tracts to a relative of hers. The result was that he embraced the truth in less than one year. He walked forty miles to attend a quarterly meeting, was baptized, and joined the church. When the plan of forming clubs of the SIGNS was first agitated one year ago, he took eight copies, and has been an active worker since that time. He lives in Kentucky. The following is a letter from one of our active sisters in Indiana: “We have some very good news to-day. I have been sending THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES to an old friend who lives in Illinois, and have written her many letters to remove her strong prejudices. Now, both herself and sister have commenced to keep the Lord’s Sabbath. She says they are very much blessed in keeping it, although they are alone, and do not have the advantages of meetings. They hope to be faithful and true. They are very grateful for the light which God has sent them, and are trying to help others to see it.” The above is only a small part of what might be reported weekly from our missionary workers in this country, while our foreign correspondence in the different languages in which the truth is represented, is equally interesting. The cause is the Lord’s. The truth is his, and it is rapidly finding its way to honest hearts in every part of the civilized world. Patient, enduring labor will be rewarded, “and he that reapeth, receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal.” Shall we not commence 1878 with new zeal and consecration to the work of God? M. L. HUNTLEY.