Newspaper Activity in the Atlantic Union Conference by Walter L. Burgan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 1, 1914

Newspaper Activity in the Atlantic Union Conference

By Walter L. Burgan

During the Atlantic Union conference held in South Lancaster, Mass., November 27 to December 7, it was encouraging to hear from various brethren concerning their success in having extracts of their sermons published in the newspapers. At the Atlantic Union Conference session two years ago there was begun the present newspaper campaign, which has spread to every State in the Union, as well as to places in other countries, and the reports at this last meeting gave clear evidence that the workers are realizing more and more the importance of using this medium as an aid in giving the glorious advent message to the world in this generation.

My heart greatly rejoiced when the brethren devoted the best portion of one meeting to the question of how to develop, in the cities, the newspaper phase of our campaign. They spoke principally of the newspapers because they felt, as they expressed themselves in the discussion, that the secular press has done a great deal toward bringing our work and the truth we stand for to the attention of the masses. It seemed to be the opinion of the majority of the workers that the papers must be considered as a valuable cog in this great wheel which will cease to revolve only when probation closes. Some stated that the success of their efforts during the past summer depended considerably on their activity in the advertising that was done through the newspapers in the places where they labored. They explained that persons were brought to their tents by reading their sermon reports and their paid advertisements in the papers who otherwise would not have heard of the meetings. A number of these eventually accepted the message, and are now stanch believers.

Some also told of the long distances interested persons had traveled to reach the meetings, having read of them in the papers. One brother working in Boston stated that he received a liberal amount of space in some of the large dailies there on special subjects, and was firm in his belief that these great publications will do much toward heralding the gospel warning. Another brother, who has recently connected with the Atlantic Union Conference, stated that he had been quite successful in having reports of sermons published in Chicago, some of the reports being a column long. One of the workers in New York City stated that the church editor of one of the large dailies there was friendly to him, and has been publishing accounts for him.

It was extremely pleasing to hear these reports, especially of what is being done in the large cities. When our evangelists secure reports of their sermons in the daily papers of these large cities, it certainly ought to encourage them in the belief that the secular press has been placed here for God's servants to use in the spread of the gospel. An illustration of the power of the press in

reaching honest hearts is herewith given:—

A short report of one of Elder A. G. Daniells's talks on the finishing of the work, in which he made prominent the thought of the nearness of the coming of Christ, was published on the first page of the Boston Post, a paper with a daily circulation of over three hundred thousand copies. This paper circulates all over Massachusetts. A man outside of Boston read the article and sent a letter to Elder Daniells asking him for more information concerning this wonderful topic. This is a striking instance of what the newspapers can do, and ought to arouse our workers to try more earnestly than ever to bring the light of truth through this agency to those who are in darkness. Another man in Worcester telephoned to one of the workers at the meeting, and expressed the thought that we were having great meetings. This man also had learned of the meetings through the daily reports appearing in one of the Worcester papers.

Many interesting experiences were told in connection with the newspaper work, which convinced all that the workers are seeing benefits, and also that the message is spreading out over a broader area, as the result of the publicity already secured. They returned to their homes determined to enlist the help of the newspapers in a more decided way than ever in the task committed to us of warning the world in this generation.

WALTER L. BURGAN.