VIGILANT MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
By Stephen N. Haskell
We are surprised to notice the slow progress made by our brethren in taking the Signs in clubs, remailing them to the addresses of others, and then writing to them in regard to the paper. What led to the organization of vigilant societies was, first, the fact that the sisters would more especially take the responsibility of seeing that the papers were sent out, and thus they would not be so likely to be laid upon the shelf unused; second, to develop talent which would otherwise be of no use in the cause of God; and third, to thus place our reading matter before thousands of families that otherwise would have no knowledge of present truth. We here take the liberty to insert a portion of a private letter, dated Jan. 19, from a secretary of a vigilant missionary society. This society is trusting in God for monthly donations to pay for one hundred and fifty copies of the Signs. Last year they ventured on God’s promises for a smaller amount. They first secure all they can on the monthly installment plan, and when they fail of means, they unitedly pray to God; and I understand that they have never yet been disappointed in making their monthly payments. The means comes in by donations. The following is the letter:— “I know you will be interested to know of the prosperity of the V. M. society. I am more than happy to inform you that there is a commendable zeal manifested on the part of all that attend the meetings in sending out the Signs. We have sent out our first two hundred and seventy-five copies. I really believe that we have undertaken the work this year in the fear of God, more than ever before. We have ventured out by faith. We believe God will help us through. It is his work, and is it not safe to trust him to help us temporally, physically, and spiritually? The more I do, the more of the blessing of the Lord I enjoy, and the better my health is.” (This sister had been given up by physicians to die.) After speaking of other matters she continues: “Perhaps you would like to know how many papers each one takes weekly.” Then follow the names of fifteen sisters, which we omit, but give the number they take respectively each week, as follows: 50 copies, 30, 26, 12, 20, 18, 10, 7, 10, 5, 10, 10, 4, 4, 59. The one that takes fifty-nine copies says:— “Probably there will be times when they cannot take care of so many, and I have volunteered at such times to help them through. I found a book to-day that contains the names of hundreds of ladies and gentlemen, of all classes and from all parts of the country. I feel sure God is leading us. Already $5.50 has come in outside of pledges. We are constantly pleading with God to help us to means. I received a card from a student in —— University, N. C., stating that he is interested, and wants more papers. Another wants to know if we would like to have him act as agent. He says several of the students to whom I have sent the papers like them. —— —— writes from ——, N. C., that he and one other brother were expelled from the Baptist church in November for believing and preaching the seventh-day Sabbath, in consequence of which three others, real worthy individuals, came out and took hold of the Sabbath with them. There is now a company here who have organized a Sabbath-school, and are using Bro. Bell’s ‘Lessons for Little Ones.’”