The Spirit of Inquiry by G. C. Hoskin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1914

The Spirit of Inquiry

By G. C. Hoskin

How quickly things are moving these days! In such an extremely short space of time the thoughts of the entire world are centered on one thing,—the meaning of these terrible conditions. How quickly the mask of indifference is cast aside and a genuine spirit of inquiry is manifest!

Notice this letter, dated at Butte, Mont.:—

"Will you please send me a recent copy of the Signs of the Times Magazine, for which I inclose ten cents? I shall probably send a year's subscription shortly. I have an old copy (September, 1913) which was given to me by a friend. Will you kindly tell me where I can procure a copy of a work I much valued, but lost in a fire two years ago, with publisher's name, too? It is a book by Uriah Smith, 'Daniel and the Revelation,' published I think somewhere in Michigan. I should like a recent edition. The other one was bought some fifteen years ago."

Those of our brethren and sisters who are not directly connected with one of our publishing centers cannot realize the great spirit of inquiry that is sweeping over this world and taking possession of the hearts of people in all walks of life. A few days at the desk in the Signs of the Times office, which is doubtless paralleled in our other offices, is certainly an inspiration, a veritable eye opener. How it ought to stir us. Thirty-four letters were counted at one time, in just a few days' mail. Space does not permit of many, but these are samples of how they run:—

From Ely, Minn.: "I inclose herewith post-office money order for $1 to pay for a year's subscription to the Signs of the Times monthly. I should like also to be informed what works or books you may have explaining the books of prophecy, as I am very much interested in this."

From Otterbein, Ind.: "Inclosed find ten cents for sample copies of the paper you publish, Signs of the Times. I am also desirous of finding some information as to what part America will have in the break-up of nations as the fulfillment of prophecy."

From Genoa Bluffs, Iowa: "Inclosed find check for ninety cents to pay six months' subscription to the Signs of the Times. I shall be very glad if you will set my subscription back to the beginning of the war in Europe."

From Lockburne, Ohio: "Please find inclosed fifty cents, for which send me the Signs of the Times for six months. Please state if you have any tracts on this last great battle. Please begin my subscription on beginning of the outbreak of this war."

From Ettricks, Va.: "I will send $2.25 today if I can for the weekly and the monthly. I like the Signs of the Times. I should not like to do without it, yet I have never heard one of your men preach in my life, and I am almost eighty years old and teach in the Sunday school. I hope the Lord will bless all your efforts. It does not look as if there was any time to lose."

From Jacksonville, Fla.: "I have just accidentally run across a copy of your magazine; and believing that we are living in the last days, I shall be glad if you will, on receipt of this letter, send me a sample copy of your magazine, and I will send you one dollar for a year's subscription. I am writing this letter to make sure of your address."

From Social Circle, Ga.: "I want to subscribe for a paper known as Signs of the Times, a Seventh-day Adventist publication. I was a subscriber to this paper some years ago. I am not sure that it is published at Oakland, therefore I am writing this letter to find out whether the above is the right address."

There are many others. All with the same big interrogation point, "What does it mean?"

We ought to answer that question for them. We ought to plan, and plan carefully, to do so. That is what all our literature is for. There were never such opportunities for speaking the word as now. You can talk with almost any one on this stirring subject. People are glad to listen. Surely now is our time to work. Many times only a word is sufficient to get a subscription. Many lists of names are being received from all parts of the country, indicating a genuine arousing, a real revival of the missionary spirit.

Let us speak the word, pass on the literature, and solicit the subscription. This is practical missionary work. Now is our time.

G. C. HOSKIN.