CHEERING NEWS | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1879

CHEERING NEWS.

From a letter written by Bro. Wm. Ings to the V. M. Society of Battle Creek, from Southampton, England, we take the liberty to present the following interesting particulars to the readers of the REVIEW:—

There are features in the work here that are very encouraging. It is astonishing to see those who are not with us eager to scatter our publications. There is a power attending this work which compels men to herald the notes of warning. There is a person at the docks at this place, who has a large acquaintance among sea-faring men and who occupies a position where he can send our publications to the ends of the earth. He told me only yesterday that many persons come to him and beg of him to loan them our tracts and papers, which he does with as much delight as I would myself. He says their remarks are, “What wonderful things they contain,” etc.

We are sending publications to all parts of the globe. No ship has ever refused to take them. We put up five packages for each steamer going to foreign parts: one for the passengers, one for the crew, and three to be left at different ports at which they call, or to be given to other vessels as they pass them, for they frequently inquire for reading matter. One ship that will make a trip around the world touching at all principal ports, has been supplied with publications. Some of them have been sent to China and the India Islands, as well as other distant lands. I find many Danes and Swedes who are eager to get the limited supply of publications we have in their language, which they carry to their native country. I have subscribed for five copies each of the Tidende and Harold. If any of your society has a surplus of these papers, I can use them to good advantage. I take ten copies of our German paper, and I could use many times that number on German steamers which call at this port every week, with their hundreds of passengers, on their way from Bremen to New York. The other day I visited a ship from San Francisco. When I handed them copies of the Signs they recognized them immediately. On inquiry I learned that our friends had put some copies aboard while at that port. They had had a good effect.

I hope you are of good courage in sending out the papers. You cannot be too active in this direction. I know of whole neighborhoods here in England, that have been aroused by a few copies of the Signs. We have a dear brother who received the first intimation that there was such a people as Seventh-day Adventists from a copy of this paper. He is now, with his family, rejoicing in the truth, and is valuable aid in extending its light by preaching and in other ways. This brother is a professor of different languages.

I might mention others in whom an interest has been awakened by reading a few copies of the Signs. We are getting some very encouraging letters from different parties as the result of sending the paper.

The work here is making steady advancement. New ones are constantly coming to hear Bro. Loughborough. They go away and tell others what wonderful things the American Evangelist has to say, and thus others are brought in. The leaven is at work, and the effort made here is not in vain.

We are all of good courage, and labor in harmony and love.