An Appeal for the Testimonies.
By Editor
THE readers of the Review have repeatedly had their attention called to the action of the General Conference in reference to placing the bound volumes of the Testimonies and Spirit of Prophecy in each of our churches. There is no church but can raise the sum of four dollars. This, at the 'reduced rates' to churches, will pay for the eight volumes which at present constitute this library. These books should be in each church immediately, so that these long evenings may be improved in reading them. The presidents and secretaries of our various tract societies, and ministers and leading men in all our churches, should wake up to this matter. It is often remarked, "I believe in them, and have read them;" but upon further inquiry, not unfrequently we learn that although several years before some of the Testimonies had been in the church, yet at that time no trace of a Testimony can be found, and there is perfect ignorance upon the matter contained in them. An inspired penman says, "The devils also believe and tremble," but this does them no good. It is faith that has a practical bearing upon the character which will avail in the day of Judgment. The object of putting these circulating libraries in our churches is that the books may be accessible to those who are unable to purchase them, that all may thus become acquainted with their contents. Thousands of our people will be lost in the day of Judgment by not giving heed to such instructions as are contained in these Testimonies. There are no particular circumstances in life to which some portion or portions of them will not apply, in the warnings and reproofs they contain. Not a few of our brethren have had a sad experience in financial losses by not giving heed to the instruction given in them concerning "patent rights." This is equally true in hundreds of cases in reference to many things relating to our spiritual interests. Many are unacquainted with what they do say upon these things, because they do not read them sufficiently. To neglect, is to slight them and to treat them with contempt. Those individuals, or that people, to whom God comes so near as to speak to them by his Spirit and by his special providence, cannot prosper without giving heed to the instruction given. When God by his Spirit or providence condescends to instruct people, it is for a purpose, and if they could get along as well without his admonition, it would be folly on the part of Omnipotence to impart it to them. Shall we by our actions charge God with folly? Will not our tract societies and ministers take hold of this matter at once, and within a few weeks' time have these books placed in all our churches? Each church should immediately raise money to pay for them. They are neatly arranged in boxes, with full directions how to use them as circulating libraries. We give the above a place in the Signs for two reasons. First, because the importance of the matters of which it speaks. The other reason we are sorry to be compelled to give. It is, that some of the officers of the Tract and Missionary Societies do not take the Review. This is not as it should be. The Review is our church paper, and often contains matters of vital interest to the churches and tract workers which we do not consider necessary to put in the Signs, which circulates so largely in clubs and in new places where these special church matters are not of special interest. We can remember when every family of Adventist Sabbath-keepers took the Review. In those days there was a degree of fervor and depth of interest which, unfortunately, are not always found now, especially among those who do not read the Review and Instructor.