THE VALUE OF A TRACT by J. O. Corliss

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1879

THE VALUE OF A TRACT.

By J. O. Corliss

Very few have a just idea of the value of a tract. Unless immediate results are secured from their distribution, some become discouraged and lose their interest in the work. When a tract is given to an individual, no one can tell what the result will be. The person to whom it is first given may not take any particular interest in it; but after a time it may by a seeming accident fall into the hands of some one who will have interest enough to read it, and thus receive the truth. Others in turn may receive reading matter from him, and embrace the truth, till an untold amount of good is accomplished from the simple act of giving one tract. Instances of this kind have come to notice, one of which I will relate.

While seated one day in the tent at Boulder, a well-dressed, intelligent-looking man stepped in, with whom I engaged in conversation. On learning that he was the proprietor of one of the hotels in the place, I asked if he knew anything of the doctrines taught by Seventh-day Adventists. He answered in the affirmative, and then stated where he learned what he knew of their doctrines. Three years ago, in company with another Dane, a friend named Anderson, he started for Colorado. At Davenport, Iowa, they stopped at a hotel, where a number of young men were congregated in the bar-room, amusing themselves by throwing at each other across the room a book, which, by the rough treatment given it, had lost both its covers. When they had tired of their sport, he picked up the mutilated book, which upon examination proved to be a work by Elder J. G. Matteson, entitled Liv Og Död (Life and Death). After reading a few pages he resolved to buy the book, as it was in his native tongue, and carry it to Colorado, where in the mines he could read it carefully at leisure. Accordingly he paid twenty-five cents for it, the landlord remarking that it was of no value to him, being one that his cousin, who was now dead, had left with him to read.

Upon arriving in Colorado they went to work in the mines, as they had anticipated. Not having a relish for the amusements of the other miners, the evenings began to hang heavily on their hands, till our friend thought of the purchase he had made at the hotel in Iowa. The book was produced, and by turns read aloud. Upon finishing it their interest was such that they sent for other works. These were also read with the same avidity, when Anderson declared his intention to observe the Sabbath, and lead a Christian life. Since then he has been busily engaged, when not working in the mine, in circulating reading matter among the miners, some of whom have also embraced the truth.

A short time after the conversation referred to above, I received a letter from this brother in the mountains, expressing a desire to be baptized, and asking if a little help in the way of means to assist in bearing tent expenses would be acceptable. Upon receiving a reply, by return mail he sent a P. O. order for thirty dollars. From this letter I learned that he was in moderate circumstances, and although he had not even seen one of our ministers, he had paid seventy-five dollars to the Danish mission, and was nearly ready to send fifty more, after which he said he meant by the help of the Lord to do as much for the mission in Colorado.

Here we can see the partial result of giving a book to a friend; and although the person who first gave the book did not live to see the result, yet that good deed is still remembered of God, and will continue to produce results, the aggregate of which will only be known in eternity. To give a tract may seem a very simple thing; but in the great summing up, who can tell what may be revealed as the result of such a work? Brethren, do not be discouraged in sowing seeds of truth. The harvest time will soon be here. Remember the promise is that we shall reap if we faint not.

J. O. CORLISS.