V. M. Societies by H. A. St. John

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1878

V. M. Societies.

By H. A. St. John

While attending the last session of the General Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., we had some opportunity of learning about the workings of the vigilant missionary society of that church. Of course we had seen frequent notices of this society and its workings before, but we had never been favorably impressed with the idea of two societies for manifestly the same purpose, or nearly so. It had really seemed to us that to organize a V. M. society was virtually to write the T. and M. society a failure. We were fully convinced of our mistake, and as fully satisfied of the practical utility of the V. M. S. at the time and place above-mentioned.

Upon returning home we very soon put in operation a V. M. society at Clyde. We have attended three of their weekly meetings, and have been really surprised at the interest, activity, and results. A club of eight copies of THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES was coming to one person at Clyde, and scarcely any one else had any interest in their distribution. As a consequence, this noble enterprise would probably have ceased entirely in a few short weeks. This club was turned over to the V. M. society, and at their third meeting it was unanimously voted that the club be continued another year, and six more copies added to the number. And without doubt this number will be increased soon. They also voted to order immediately, twelve copies each of THE HEALTH REFORMER and YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR, and ten copies of THE COLLEGE RECORD.

We shall build up and encourage this kind of work as we have opportunity. God will bless and crown the faithful workers, that faint not by the way, but hold out to the end.

H. A. St. John.