INTEREST IN MISSIONARY WORK.
From a private letter from Bro. Haskell, dated, Napa, Cal., July 30, 1879, we take the liberty to make the following extract:— We have just held, I think, the best meeting in all respects that I have attended since coming to the Pacific coast. The interest manifested to attend was truly remarkable, which was doubtless owing, to quite an extent, to the missionary efforts that have been put forth in this locality. At St. Helena they have a V. M. society in prosperous condition, holding an extensive correspondence with a portion of the world where other societies do but little. At a temperance meeting held here, nearly all present signed the teetotal pledge. The V. M. societies at St. Helena and Napa are taking 103 copies of the new German paper, and a larger proportion of the brethren in this vicinity take the REVIEW than in any other portion of the State I have as yet visited. I believe that the REVIEW and Good Health are as necessary to a healthy spiritual state as a hygienic diet is to a healthy physical condition. Where these papers are not taken we find no interesting missionary societies; and the truth is apt to lose its force upon hearts, the believers becoming satisfied with a form without the power. A church will live longer without a preacher than without these periodicals. The experience of the last ten years in traveling among the churches has taught me that where these papers are taken and read, more can be accomplished in a two days’ meeting than it would take a week to accomplish elsewhere. I shall henceforth urge more than ever the reading of our publications. It is the best means to lead men and women to appreciate spiritual things, and the importance of the third angel’s message. The Signs is admirably calculated for the work it is intended to do; that is, to go into new fields. After introducing the truth by preaching, there is no better way to confirm new converts in the faith than by interesting them in reading our publications. I wish I could make every young minister and every tract officer feel the truthfulness of these statements, and there would not be a family of Seventh-day Adventists within the range of their influence but would be induced to take these periodicals.