“SIGNS” TO ENGLAND by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1881

“SIGNS” TO ENGLAND.

By Editor

AT the session of the General Conference held last October it was voted that sufficient means be raised to send one thousand copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to England, to be used by Eld. Loughborough and his fellow-workers in the missionary work. Only a small part of the money for these papers has as yet been received. But we feel full confidence that the brethren will not allow so worthy an enterprise to fail, and in view of the fact that precious time is fast passing never to return, we concluded to start the one thousand copies with the last number, the first of the volume.

With the help of God, we intend that the SIGNS shall be just the kind of paper needed for this work. Besides the regular contributors in this country, Eld. Loughborough proposes to furnish such articles as will make the paper best adapted to his use in Great Britain. In a private letter just received he says:—

“As soon as I saw that one thousand SIGNS per week were to be sent to England, my mind began to be exercised relative to writing for the SIGNS, especially to write upon such points as will meet the views held by the people in England. There are some questions which those ask in sincerity who have been reading the paper for a time. An answer could be given there that would meet the positions taken here. Although the people speak the same language that is used in the United States, there is a vast difference in the sentiments and usages of the two nations.

“So much had my mind been exercised in this direction, that I prepared an article, in the shape of a letter to a friend in Glasgow. [The article referred to appeared last week.] It was a response to his questions which involve a very popular opinion promulgated by the Darbyists [Plymouth Brethren], that all we have to do is to believe.

“Quite a numerous sect here called Christadelphians (?), really followers of John Thomas of Virginia, United States, preach and publish that there is ‘no devil.’ Some of our Sabbath-keepers here embraced the Sabbath, and came out from that sect. I have nearly completed a review of their printed lecture on the ‘No devil’ theory.”

We are glad to know that Eld. Loughborough is so ready to engage in this good work. We see no reason why, with the blessing of God, much good may not be accomplished. Bro. Ings, writing from England, states that he knows whole neighborhoods there that have been aroused by reading a few copies of the SIGNS. If this is true of a few copies, what may one thousand accomplish? And what is true of England is equally true of other countries. Now is the time, brethren, to labor. If we cannot engage directly in the work of sending out the papers, we can give of our means to help others to do so. Shall we do it, and shall we send our united prayers to Heaven that the labor be not in vain?