AN APPEAL FOR OUR PERIODICALS.
By Stephen N. Haskell
Almost daily my feelings are stirred with reference to the circulation of the REVIEW and REFORMER among our people. Could I reach those not taking these periodicals by this appeal, I would address them directly; but as I cannot, I appeal to our ministers and missionary workers everywhere. My opinion, from what I constantly see as I visit among our brethren, is, that a spiritual stupor is over our people in this respect. The surest evidence of the immediate coming of the Just One is the spread of the last message of mercy. God's angels are holding the elements of war for this purpose. The Eastern question, and the smouldering fires of internal difficulties among the nations, which are ready to involve the world in the last fatal conflict, are exciting in their nature; but these elements are under the control of higher powers, waiting for “many peoples, nations, and tongues” to hear the warning of the third angel. The REVIEW is the only periodical published that contains the facts that weekly show the spread of the truth all over the world. It contains extracts from letters showing the progress of the truth in every civilized nation. These things kindle in the souls of true believers a most lively faith in the soon-coming of our Redeemer, and impress them with the necessity of a speedy preparation to meet him. The REVIEW is our church paper. Its publication was commenced under God's special providence. It is designed to enlighten believers upon these things, and gives no uncertain sound. It also points out the particular dangers of the church at the present time. Notwithstanding all this, I find brethren and sisters everywhere dying spiritually for want of a realizing sense of these things. The REVIEW should go into every English speaking family of Seventh-day Adventists. Where they are too poor to pay for it themselves, the church with which they are connected should pay for it for them. If churches are not able, let the district pay for all those too poor to pay for themselves. I know the times are hard; but not unfrequently I find families that complain of poverty, so poor they cannot pay for the paper, that are using tea, coffee, and other injurious things, which cost them more than the price of both the REVIEW and REFORMER. Some, when they embraced the truth saw force in the health reform. They partially embraced it, and subscribed for the REFORMER and the REVIEW; but they soon dropped one or both, and shortly went back to their old habits. We have a special message and are engaged in a special work, and our strength lies in looking upon our work in this light. As soon as we lose sight of this fact, we lose the power of God from our souls. We become formal in our profession, and can see no necessity for being so particular about keeping the Sabbath, living the health reform, etc., etc. Then we wonder that our children are so unruly, and do not feel more the necessity of being converted. The spirit of sacrifice has leaked out of the heart, and there is a disposition to become like the world. Each minister should see that those who embrace the truth subscribe for the periodicals. Tract workers, elders of churches, yes, every one whose soul is stirred with these solemn truths, investigate the matter. Is there a family in your church that does not take these periodicals? If so, steps should be taken at once to see that they have them and read them. If they cannot pay two dollars at once, let them pay twenty-five cents a month to the librarian of the tract society. This will pay for both REVIEW and REFORMER, and that society will advance the money for them to the Office of publication. Perhaps some will say, “There is one that comes into the neighborhood, and I can have that to read.” I have heard this many times, but never found one of these individuals who could tell a single article he had read. There are families that say they had rather be deprived of one meal a day than go without these papers. They know what the papers contain. “Well,” says one, “I have not much faith in the REFORMER; it is too radical,” and yet these individuals will yearly pay ten times the cost of the REFORMER which they would have saved by taking it and giving heed to its instructions. Many a run of fever and doctor's fee would have been avoided had they been better informed upon the subject of health. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” says God. This is as true in a physical sense as in a moral one. Let our tract societies and vigilant societies take hold of this matter at once, and a reform will take place which will be the means of saving scores in the kingdom of God. I have known churches to become extinct where we have reason to believe, that, had they continued to take our periodicals, they would have been prospering to-day, and many more will become extinct, unless an interest is speedily taken in this matter. Satan is gaining a march upon many of our brethren and churches upon this point; and who will arouse themselves as they read this article, and be one of those who will defeat the enemy, and rescue at least one family from this snare of the devil? Rout him, my brethren, from the churches where you live. We wait for a practical response.