AS THE readers of the SIGNS do not often have the privilege of reading of the work in this field, I will try to write something, which I hope may be of interest to those who love the cause of present truth.
I am glad to say that we meet with things every week that encourage us to believe that the message is taking hold of hearts. Orders for our publications are increasing, which shows that those who read are becoming interested. But a few days ago I met a gentleman at Exeter, who had just read "The Sanctuary," which I had left for his examination. He spoke very highly of the work, saying he had never read such a book before. He purchased it, also "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." He said he had loaned the "Sanctuary" to a local preacher, who had read it and desired to purchase one for his own library, as he had not met with a book before that gave him so much light on the Bible.
While at Southampton, a few days ago, I met with a gentleman who has been a reader of the SIGNS for several years. He thinks he meets with no paper like the SIGNS. He is a man who is carefully watching the progress of the truth, evidently expecting to embrace it, when the way opens before him. Old associations hold him yet, but he advocates the truth wherever he goes. I believe such persons will yet come out on the side of the message, before the work closes.
I find that the SIGNS is liked very much by those who read it in this country. While at Exeter, I visited the reading-room several times, and noticed the SIGNS in the hands of the readers nearly every time. By the appearance of the paper after it had been in the room but one day, I should judge it was read more than any other religious journal on their tables. There must be many persons who are constant readers of the paper, and are becoming acquainted with the truths it teaches. When this country is shaken by the power of the truth, many of these readers will be ready to fall in and help swell the loud cry.
Not only do we find people becoming interested in the truth, but we find that there are some accepting it. When they once decide to obey, I know of no people who will sacrifice more to advance this cause than the English people. When making an appeal for means to aid our tent fund, I received liberal pledges, from those that I knew were having all they could do to furnish food for their families. On inquiring how they expected to meet their pledges, they said they would live with one meal less per day, to help forward God's cause. With this spirit of sacrifice, and the love of the truth in the heart, the Lord will work wonderful things for his people.
In this village (Riseley) we have a company of some fifteen Sabbath-keepers who meet together on the Sabbath. Our Sabbath-school has at present an average attendance of forty-two. There are many more interested. We have a pleasant hall for our meetings, free of rent. Next Sabbath we expect to have a baptism, when five persons will go forward in this ordinance.
The Lord is good, and will carry on his work even in this land. I want to be so connected with it that I may have the overcomer's reward. I ask an interest in the prayers of all those who love this message.