The Missionary | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 38.

The Missionary.

THE TRACT AND MISSIONARY WORK.

God did not design that only a few of his people should labor to win souls to Christ. He did not design that this work should be confined to preachers or evangelists, apostles or prophets. It was not his design that those who believed in Christ should shut themselves up in a church, listen to sermons, essays, dissertations, or exhortations, from week to week from a pleasant pastor; going home from each service, thinking that their work was done because they had attended the means of grace, helped pay the preacher, and had given a little toward foreign missions. Such a church may grow in numbers, but it will die spiritually. Like the Israel of old, the nation may be multiplied, but the joy not increased. God has called his people for a different purpose:—

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises [margin, virtues] of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9.

Those who are truly converted to God, who have the love of Christ in their heart, will recognize this truth by the new life that is in them. They will be burdened for others as was Christ. And thus it was in the early history of this people of which we are speaking. The plainly-taught message that Christ’s coming is near, the light on the holy but down-trodden law of God, the sanctuary question revealing God’s mercy, and the proximity of the judgment, brought light and hope and strength to their hearts; and like Philip of old, they would say to friends as well as all others, "Come and see." John 1:43–46.

But how should they do this? Preachers were sent out, missionary visits were made, a few tracts and pamphlets and papers were printed and distributed. But it was indiscriminate and individual work. Thoroughness of work demands order and system. Where many engage in it, this is demanded much more; and in order to have order and system, union is also necessary. Union comes by truth; order and system by education. Seventh-day Adventists saw the need of this. In fact, the work of God forced them to more thorough organization. To do effectual work, they must organize. The organization must be for that purpose. And it must be in harmony with God’s design, which is that all who had tasted of the goodness of God, all who were Christ’s servants, might have a part in carrying forward his work. See Matt. 25:14, 15; 1 Cor. 12:7–11.

From the necessity of the case (for souls who are burdened for souls must labor), the tract society organization sprang up among them. The first State tract society was that of New England, organized in 1871. The next year organizations were perfected in New York, Michigan, and Vermont. In 1873, State societies were organized in Illinois, Minnesota, and Maine. In most of these States, partially organized local societies had existed before.

This step of organization and method in work, gave a new impetus to the cause. Wherever possible, local societies were organized in

the various churches and companies of believers throughout the various States where the truth had gone.

The organization is simple. Each State is divided into districts, over which is a director and secretary. Each district includes one or more local societies, the head of which is a librarian. The officers of the State society are president, vice-president, secretary, and board of directors. The directors and other lower officers nearly always serve without compensation.

The payment of one dollar constitutes one a life member, unless forfeited by change of belief, apostasy, or otherwise. The funds of the society are made up of membership fees, sales of publications, and donations from the members, and all others who are interested in the work. These funds are used for the purchase of tracts and papers, for missionary use among neighbors, in adjacent towns and cities, and, in fact, in all parts of the world. Reports of labor are made each quarter to the librarians, forwarded by them to the district secretaries, and by them to the State secretary.

Of course all fields within organized State conferences and tract societies, come within the jurisdiction of these societies. The rest of the world is the field of the International Tract Society, which was organized in 1876. The life-membership fee of this society is ten dollars. It is supported in the same manner as the local societies. Annual meetings of the International Society are held in connection with the General Conference, and before this body are presented the annual reports of the State societies. These reports also appear in the various journals of the denomination.

As soon as these organizations sprang into existence, publications were demanded and began to multiply. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES began to be published in 1874, and has since been, and still is, a messenger of precious truth to all parts of the world. Papers are also published in the Scandinavian, German, French, Roumanian, and Holland languages, besides the English in the Old World, the Colonies, and this country. These will be noticed more fully in the publishing work. Many tracts and books were also printed.

These societies have proved great blessings to many as well as mighty levers in carrying forward the truth of God. Many precious souls have been reached by them that have never heard the living preacher, and greater blessings still have come back upon those who have engaged in this missionary work. It has ever kept before this people the importance of the work of God, by making them feel and know that it is their work; all talent has thus been utilized, and the work of God has been greatly advanced. Those who could not spend time in purely missionary work, have been able to do more in donations. God will reward both.

The influence of this work has gone to all parts of the world. There are twenty-eight State societies in America, and eight similar organizations in Australia, New Zealand, Central Europe, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and South Africa; while the International Society has penetrated to many countries and islands of the sea. The total receipts of the societies last year aggregated $131,598.68. There were distributed 33,589,137 pages of reading matter, besides 1,469,836 periodicals, fifty per cent. more than the preceding year. The membership is about 15,000. To God be all the praise that he has enabled them to do so much.