The Cause is Onward by B. R. Nordyke

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 15, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 19.

The Cause is Onward.

By B. R. Nordyke

THE reports which we receive from the workers in their respective fields of labor are very encouraging. The colporters and canvassers in the State of New York are doing some effective work; they have entered the cities of Auburn, Cortland, Homer, and Syracuse; they have sent us a liberal list of yearly subscribers from each of these cities, and are still adding more names to their list each week. The mission lately opened in Buffalo, N. Y., uses fifty copies of the SIGNS per week, and are doing some good missionary work. Sister Addie S. Bowen, the efficient State agent for N. Y., Miss May Taylor, Assistant Secretary, and Eld. E. W. Whitney, have by persistent effort and well planned work, increased their State club from 450 to 1,000 copies.

The Ohio society has opened a State repository at Clyde, and ordered a club of 200 SIGNS to start with, as they have just commenced active operation. They also expect to increase their club to 1,000 copies, as they have voted to furnish Kentucky with 500 copies, and intend to make a thorough canvass of Ohio during this summer.

The workers in Iowa have entered the capital of the State, and are making a good canvass. One would almost think they had taken the city by storm, judging from the long list of yearly subscribers to the SIGNS which the State agent is sending in. They are also doing good work in Council Bluffs, Mt. Pleasant, Smithland, State Center, and other portions of the State.

Kansas has established a mission at Lawrence, preparatory to the State camp-meeting, which commences May 21, and has eight or ten colporters at work there. After the camp-meeting, a repository will be opened at Fort Scott, to be followed by a thorough canvass of the State.

Regarding California, comment is unnecessary; she has always done her part, and as the workers are entering their fields with renewed zeal and courage—after attending the excellent Oakland meetings—we know we can depend upon this State to largely increase her list of readers.

For genuine business and good work we must commend Minnesota as the "banner" State; she has not allowed a single club to be discontinued. She has not only renewed every club, but has increased the number of copies taken in the clubs, and in some cases has more than doubled the former number.

Michigan has ordered a State club of 700, in addition to the large clubs taken by the Battle Creek Vigilant Missionary Society. The State agent writes that they intend to enlarge their club soon, as they want to put the SIGNS into the hands of every family in Michigan.

The Pennsylvania society has increased her State club to 750 copies, and is doing good missionary work.

Nebraska took the lead last year in the SIGNS work, and she is preparing to do more this summer than last. Other States will have to look to their laurels.

The time has now come when we should enter the cities more largely with our missionary and canvassing work, and as some of those who have tried it have met with success, and as we have received so many encouraging letters, we thought a few of the items would be encouraging to workers in other fields, as well as interesting to our readers in general.

B. R. NORDYKE.