TO OUR READERS AND FRIENDS.
By Editor
"In union there is strength." We wish your co-operation. Please listen to our proposition. Here are some of the reasons why the "Signs of the Times" will be a better paper in 1898 than it has been in 1897. You will be interested in reading them. 1. It will have an enlarged editorial staff. Elder A. O. Tait, who has had years of experience in the field and in connection with our central publishing house, will be connected with the paper as assistant editor. In addition to other matters of interest on various subjects, he will furnish a series of most instructive articles on the signs of the times as foretold in prophecy, and fulfilling in our day. These will be illustrated with cuts, new and original, prepared for these articles. 2. We shall publish from Dr. E. J. Waggoner, of London, England, a series of articles on the first chapters of the wonderful book of Hebrews, which so forcibly presents Christ's power, humiliation, oneness with us, and his work for us. 3. A series of articles will be presented on the Revelation, and others will be published on the prophecies of Daniel. 4. We have in hand already articles of striking interest and clearness on the Word of God and its power, the revelation of God in nature, and a large variety of other subjects, developing important Bible truth. 5. We shall have missionary correspondents in various parts of the world who will furnish us with fresh original matter, illustrated by photo-engravings of actual scenes and occurrences. In this we have the hearty cooperation of our Foreign Mission Board, as we are sure we shall have of our missionaries. 6. We shall endeavor to fill our home department with better, fresher, more practical, yet not less interesting, original matter. 7. We shall keep pace with the work for the low and fallen, as it is now carried on by so many noble souls, and will endeavor to make the Signs a faithful coadjutor in this labor of love. 8. We shall endeavor to improve all our various departments in the year to come by the continued aid of those who have so generously helped us in the past. Thus much for the subject matter which the paper will contain. Last year the Signs came out in a new dress of clean, beautiful type. That type is as good now as then. But in addition to that we shall improve its mechanical appearance in the following respects:— 9. It will be printed on much better paper. In this way we can print better illustrations and print the better illustrations better. We shall be able to use reproductions from photographs. 10. It will be much better illustrated than ever before with original drawings and photographs, prepared and secured especially for the Signs. We have furnished a few of these during the year past; we shall endeavor to make the paper much better in this respect in the year to come. 11. The columns of the paper will be lengthened by about one-half an inch, making more than one-half a page more of reading matter to each number. All these things will greatly increase the expense of publishing the paper. From a pecuniary point of view it will be the publisher's loss, while to our patrons it will be gain, and much greater gain we earnestly hope to the cause of Christ in winning precious souls to him. The "Signs of the Times" is not published as a money-making scheme. If it had been, its publishers would not have refused the thousands of dollars which they have refused for space for questionable advertisements, and yet such advertisements as are run in religious papers generally. The paper is published to preach the Gospel and to save souls. This is its sole object. Because of this may we not earnestly plead for the aid and co-operation of our readers and every lover of truth? We are grateful, deeply grateful, for what has been accomplished. We wish here to thank our friends again for their help so freely given. But we hope for greater success, for a wider circulation, for the privilege of reaching more souls for whom Christ died. Here is what we propose and hope to do; what will you do to assist us? Discouragement.—Disappointing facts do not warrant discouraging conclusions. It is not likely that Caleb and Joshua were delightfully exhilarated by the sight of the giants, and the walled cities, any more than the other ten spies were. The giants were actually no bigger, and the walls actually no higher, to the ten than to the two. The facts were the same, but Caleb and Joshua concluded differently. Why?—Because they included differently. The ten faced the situation by themselves; the two faced it with God. The "ten judged God in sight of their difficulties, and said, It can not be done." The two judged the difficulties in the sight of God, and said, "We are well able." If, in the bright lexicon of youth, there is no such word as fail, so in the records of our lives as Christians, who trust in the living God, there never should be written, "And they brought back a discouraging report." Let the odds be against us, and obstacles seem insurmountable, we have but to include the Almighty in faith, and ourselves in fidelity, and let God draw conclusions. "He shall not fail, nor be discouraged," is the divine intention concerning every soul, trustful and true.