Our missionary paper, the Signs of the Times, is doing its work everywhere, and is opening the way for the truth to be more fully presented. This paper has been made a blessing to very many souls. All should feel the deepest interest to have it a spiritual messenger, full of life and plain, practical truth. In the Christian world there are many starving for the bread of life. The Signs of the Times, laden with rich food, is a feast to many who are not of our faith.
Our brethren do not all see and realize the importance of this paper; if they did, they would feel greater personal interest to make it intensely interesting, and then to circulate it everywhere. All who have a part to act in the preparation of matter for this pioneer sheet are engaged in a sacred work, and they should be connected with God; they should be pure in heart and life. Then God can work with them and give them wisdom that they may become intelligent in the knowledge of the truth. God sees the motive of each worker, and will impart his grace in rich measure in accordance with the spirit in which the labor is done. This silent preacher, the Signs, enriched with precious matter, should go forth on the wings of2prayer, mingled with faith, that it may do its appointed work in shedding the light of truth upon those who are in the darkness of error.
Calls are coming in from all directions, not only from persons of our faith, but from those who have become interested by reading our publications; they say, Send us a minister to preach to us the truth. But there is a great want of laborers. We have to answer, There is no man to send among you. Many are obliged to be content with the silent preacher until God shall send them the living messenger. Let all our brethren take this to heart, and by personal effort in faith and hope contribute to the Signs of the Times, for in sending matter that is alive, in speaking by the pen words bearing the holy unction, they are preaching to thousands. The great lack of men to go from place to place and preach the word may be in a great degree supplied by tracts and papers and by intelligent correspondence.
If all would realize the necessity of doing to the utmost of their ability in the work of God, having a deep love for souls, feeling the burden of the work upon them, we should see hundreds engaged as active workers who have hitherto been dull and uninterested, accomplishing nothing. They have felt that there was nothing of importance in this tract and missionary work, —nothing worthy of their especial interest. Yet it is a fact that the circulation of our papers is doing even a greater work than the living preacher can do. All can do something. Some can do more than others, but all should become3intelligent as to how they can work most successfully and methodically in spreading the light of truth, by scattering our publications. We meet with young and old who profess to be children of God, yet who have not grown an inch for years. A Christian indeed will grow in knowledge of the truth; and as he is sanctified through the truth, he will become more and more like Jesus, and more desirous to save souls, the purchase of his blood.
Those who are colaborers with God will have no disposition to engage in the various expedients for amusement; they will not be seeking after happiness and enjoyment. In taking up their work in the fear of God, and doing service for the Master, they will secure the most substantial happiness. Connected with Jesus Christ, they will be wise unto salvation. They will be fruit-bearing trees. They will develop a blameless life, a beauteous character. The great work of redemption will be their first consideration. Eating and drinking and dressing, houses and lands, will be secondary matters. The peace of God within will force off the withered or gnarled branches of selfishness, vanity, pride, and indolence. It is faith and practise that make up the Christian’s life. We do not meet the standard of Christianity by merely professing Christ and having our names upon the church book. We should be individual workers for Christ. By personal effort we can show that we are connected with him.
Our sisters have been too willing to excuse themselves from bearing responsibilities which4require thought and close application of the mind; yet this is the very discipline they need to perfect Christian experience. They may be workers in the missionary field, having a personal interest in the distribution of tracts and papers which correctly represent our faith. All cannot go abroad to labor, but all can do something at home. Many occupy their time in needless stitching, and trimming, and ruffling of their own and their children’s clothing, and thus lose golden moments in which they might improve their talents by efforts to get the truth before others. We should, as Christians, have an abiding sense that our time, our strength, and our ability have been purchased with an infinite price. We are not our own, to use our moments in gratifying our fancy and our pride. As children of the light, we should diffuse light to others. It should be our study how we may best glorify God,—how we can work to save and bless souls for whom Christ died. In working to bless others, we shall be gathering strength and courage to our own souls, and shall receive the approval of God.
We are so much wrapped up in selfish interests that our hearts are not allowed to take in the needs and wants of humanity; we are lacking in deeds of sympathy and benevolence, in sacred and social ministering to the needy, the oppressed, and the suffering. Women are needed now—women who are not self-important, but who will work with the meekness of Christ wherever they can labor for the salvation5of souls. All who have been partakers of the heavenly benefits should be anxious that others who do not have the privileges they have enjoyed of seeing and hearing the evidences of truth, should have the truth in papers and tracts. They will not merely desire that others may have this benefit, but will act their part to accomplish this object.
Those who work for God will grow in moral and spiritual power, while those who devote their time and energies to serving themselves, will dwarf, and wither, and die. Our sisters, the youth, the middle-aged, and those of advanced years may act a part in the closing work for this time; and in doing this as they have opportunity, they will obtain an experience of the highest value to themselves. In forgetfulness of self, they will grow in grace. By training the mind in this direction, they will learn how to bear burdens for Jesus.
The souls saved by their personal efforts will be more precious to them than fashionable dress. The white robes given them by Christ, and the jeweled crown as their reward for their unselfish efforts in the salvation of souls, will be more valuable than needless adornments. The stars in their crowns will shine forever and ever, and will a thousand times repay them for the self-denial and self-sacrifice they have exercised in the cause of God.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Extracts from Letters Received
A lady in Illinois writes:—
I embraced the truth through reading the Signs of the Times which were sent to me by friends. I was very bitter at first and would not read them. As I was a lover of pure literature I thought I would examine the papers before burning them. I opened the package, and the first thing my eyes rested upon was a sermon by Mrs. E. G. White. I commenced reading, and before I was half through I had changed my mind. I had never read anything so true, good, and pure before, except in my Bible. I am still reading the precious papers and appreciate them very much.
A sister in Oklahoma writes:—
Myself and family, six in number, were brought into the truth by reading the Signs of the Times eight years ago, and we always have a warm feeling for the Signs. May God bless the Signs; it is doing a good work.
Another sister writes:—
I accepted the truth through reading matter. The Signs of the Times was the first publication that called my attention to the work, next some tracts and Sister White’s “Early Writings.” All these publications seemed like voices from heaven to me. I am selling the Signs of the Times at present with good success.
A sister in Nebraska writes:—
I first learned of the truth through the Signs of the Times which was sent me free of charge7eleven years ago. After reading the paper six weeks I told my husband we were keeping the wrong day, and from that time I began keeping the Sabbath. There is no paper so dear to me as the Signs, for I know it has brought many to Christ and will bring more.
Extract from a letter of a Bible worker who is using the Signs:—
In selecting my papers for my afternoon work one day, I folded up one of our symposium numbers on the Sabbath truth, intending to leave it with one of my readers who was deeply interested in the truth of the Sabbath; but accidentally I left it at the home of my first reader for the afternoon. I saw my mistake when I got to my second reader, and prayed the Lord to take care of them. I had read with them but a few times, and the Sabbath question was unknown to them. But they read every word of the paper, and five weeks after when I came to the Sabbath question with them they said, “Why, we have been keeping the Sabbath for five weeks. We obtained the knowledge of it from the paper you left with us.”
In a letter to a member of the Missionary Society, a resident of Oakland says:—
Your papers have been a great blessing to me, I find in them much spiritual food. I do not believe in all points as your people do, yet I find in the Signs so much valuable information on subjects upon which I have earnestly desired light for several years, that I look forward to its arrival as a messenger of light. I read it, then send it to a relative in Mississippi; so there have been two hearts made glad with the same papers. I recommend it to my friends as the best paper I ever read. May the blessing of God attend it wherever it goes.8Another says:—
Myself and family (seven persons) have come into the truth through reading the Signs.
The following letter is from a postmaster in Indiana:—
SIGNS OF THE TIMES: By some means, I don’t know how, your valuable paper fell into my wife’s hands. She thinks there never was such another paper published. I read it myself, and think it a glorious, good paper. Please send a sample copy so I can get the price, and I will send for it. The price in the other is torn out.
The following is from one of the workers in a mission in China:—
A copy of the Signs of the Times fell into my hands a week ago, and brought much blessing in helping to settle with me the Sabbath of God. Some points I was not certain on were answered by several articles in the paper, for which I praise God. Glory to his name. So enclosed herewith I send $2.00 in stamps, and will you please send the Times to my address.
A lady in Illinois when sending her renewal writes:—
Your paper just suits us; it is just like reading the Scriptures themselves. Your arguments are so plain as well as substantial. I can find a better paper nowhere.
The following is from a doctor in North Carolina.
Some one has been sending me your paper for a year; I do not know who it is, but am very grateful. In the last issue, received yesterday, your editorial on “The Present Crisis” is one of the best presentations of the subject that I have ever read. Your thoughts flow in an9even, unbroken current, straight from Christ’s teachings, the fountain head. I wish that every thinking man and woman in the United States could read it. I am with you heart and soul in this matter, and I shall so speak and teach.
I have been a Sunday-school teacher for thirty-two years, but have found no “helps” or Commentaries better than your paper on many subjects.
The following encouraging words are from one of our workers:—
I wish to say a word to encourage those old pioneers in the work, who were instrumental in bringing me into a knowledge of the truth. When I think of how careful they were of my interest, and how some of them even denied themselves what was actually needed in order to supply their friends with proper reading, and how for two years the Signs ceased not to make its regular weekly visits to our home, and without the least sign of any change on my part, and still it came until I learned to love to read it and finally to love the truths it taught; my heart fills with love to God, and to thank and praise his name that he put into their hearts to do so. Courage, brothers, eternity only can tell the good you are doing.
In sending the renewal of his club, one of our brethren writes:—
Those who are working in the city get along so much better, especially in the start, by introducing themselves with the papers. People accept the Signs better than they do tracts to begin with, then when the worker gets started he knows what tract is wanted, or if they will have regular Bible readings. There have been quite a number who have started in this way to hold Bible readings. I know also from my10own experience that there is nothing better than the papers to start with, and then through the papers we can draw the people out, and find out what they want; so that in starting missionary work or starting out new Bible workers, I am satisfied there is nothing better than beginning with a few numbers of the Signs of the Times.
One lady, in renewing her subscription and sending one other, writes:—
I wish it were a thousand copies instead of two. I cannot say enough in its praise.
One to whom the Signs had been sent by a friend sent us money for four subscriptions, and wrote as follows:—
A kind friend has been sending me the Signs of the Times for some time, and I like it so well that I wish to subscribe for it myself, and one of those books that you send with it. My husband wishes to send it to his uncle for six months. He also got two others to subscribe for it for six months each.
The following letter was written by one of our brethren a few months ago, after a short experience in taking orders for the Signs. That he is still actively and successfully engaged in the work, we know from the subscriptions which we receive from him from time to time. The letter says:—
You will find enclosed a list of twenty-six names for the Signs to be mailed to their addresses, also an order for twenty-five copies to my address. Twenty-nine of these papers will go to outsiders. In taking subscriptions a person should not forget to mention the fact that the Sunday-school lesson is in the paper; that11seems to take well. I take orders with the paper or without. I call their attention to the kind of a paper, tell them its object, and while they are making excuses and pleading hard times, I offer a silent prayer to God to tell me what to say back, and to impress them what they ought to do. By this way of doing it takes very little talking to accomplish a great deal. Last Thursday in one hour’s time I took twelve names, all outsiders. I could not help remarking, “Be it according to your faith.”
One of our ministers, writing in reference to camp-meetings which he had been attending, said:—
Many who have had no connection with us as a people have become interested and have taken hold of the truth. Many times they say, “My interest was awakened by reading the Signs of the Times, and now I am ready to take hold of the truth as taught in the paper.”
A minister in Minnesota writes:—
I have been for some time a careful reader of your most valuable paper, sent me (second-hand) from some good sister who wrote me not long ago, but just now her name is not subject to recall. I am convinced that we are as much in error when we observe the first day of the week for Sabbath as pedo-Baptists are when they follow the scarlet woman in her baptism (so called) of infants. I left the Methodist Church because of the latter, and the form of church government which she has. Now I am ignorant in regard to your church, but I want to be right. Yours for the truth as it is in Jesus.
Extract from a letter written to one of our sisters by a minister and editor to whom she had been sending the Signs:—
I greatly enjoy reading the Signs of the Times.12The clean, crisp editorials are always a blessing to my soul. There are some things concerning the observance of the Sabbath, etc., that I cannot agree with in view of my understanding of the Bible as a whole, but I agree with you and your people about Christ’s coming, etc., and I find a great deal of good spiritual food in the Signs of the Times, in fact, more than I do in any one of my other numerous exchanges.
A lady in Wisconsin writes:—
As I have been a subscriber of the Signs of the Times for the past six months, and my subscription expires this month, enclosed you will find fifty cents for balance of year. I am pleased with the Times, and feel that it has given me much light on Bible truth, and although not a member of the Adventist Church, it has been helpful in the Christian life. I hope to be able to procure some subscribers for a paper that carries so much light and Bible truth; and that during the coming year it may enter homes that are strangers to so valuable a paper.
A brother in Ohio, after reading the Signs a few months, asks for sample copies to show to others and writes as follows:—
I have been a reader of the Signs for the past seven months, and cannot say too much in favor of it. I will do what I can in securing a large circulation of your valuable paper in this vicinity.
A lady in Washington, D. C., writes:—
Enclosed is one dollar to send your valuable paper to me at the above address for one year. My son sent your paper six months to a lady in South Washington. She is now in the truth, is teaching it in a mission near her home, and she is taking the paper for herself.
A sister in Massachusetts says:—
I passed my eightieth birthday last March. I gained a knowledge of present truth by reading the Signs of the Times almost thirty years ago.
A bank cashier in Texas writes:—
I have your circular notifying me of the expiration of your paper to my address. I am at a loss to know who subscribed and had the paper sent to me. I know that I did not; and would be pleased to hear at whose instance it was sent.
I will add, your paper is well gotten up, and I take interest of late in reading it. All copies for the past six or eight months I paid no attention to, thinking they were sample copies, but for the last two months I have been reading them and am very much pleased with its reading. I enclose one dollar for renewal.
From a brother and sister in the Lord, we have the following, an echo of what is in many other letters:—
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES:
We have taken your valuable paper almost one year, and have enjoyed its teachings more than tongue or pen can tell or portray. It has truly been a Godsend to us, and if the subscription price were five times the amount, we would manage some way to get it. We often wish it could be a weekly visitor in every home, and welcomed as heartily as in ours. We have managed by many self-denials to collect a little sum to be used to carry the plain truth to a few homes. There are many more I would like to send it to, but cannot at present. We are alone in the country as far as believing the truth of God’s word is concerned; have observed the Sabbath of the Lord three years last September, and have learned more of the truth of14the word and of the mysteries (or they were mysteries to us) of the word, and more of the love of God to us, and have so much more of the love of God in us for our fellow-creatures, than we learned before in the whole seventeen years of our Christian experience. May God bless you abundantly in your efforts to warn others of the awful darkness of unbelief that is around them. We realize more and more every day the miraculous escape we have had, in having our eyes opened to the truth of God’s word.
A gentleman in Minnesota to whom the Signs had been sent by a friend writes:—
The Signs has through its pages of good things made the way for me to see and feel the need of obeying the will of Him, the Creator of all things. It has led me from darkness to light, from misery to peace. Praise be to God for his mercy and goodness and a thousand thanks to the editors. You can imagine with what joy and thankfulness we receive our papers. May the Lord bless you for the good work you are doing.
A subscriber in Washington when sending his renewal, writes:—
The Signs of the Times is a welcome visitor to our little home. In this day of the world when falsehood and deception seem to take the lead, when truth is fallen in the streets and men walk upon it, we find in the Signs nothing but the truth, unmingled with the world, the real truth of the Bible. It seems so sweet and good. We love the Signs because it came to our home when we were in darkness as to God’s commandment and gave us the truth, so plain and good. The Signs has such a clear view of the Holy Bible. It contains so much truth of the Scriptures, and we learn so much through its columns concerning God’s word.
Another subscriber writes:—
I had a friend that sent me the Signs of the Times six months. I prized the paper so highly that I subscribed for it. I have taken it constantly over nine years.
A brother in Missouri writes:—
You can count two who gained their first knowledge of the third angel’s message by reading the good Signs.
A lady in Atlanta, Ga., writes:—
The Signs of the Times was the first I read about the truth. Some papers which were given to my son by an old friend, he gave to me. I read and reread them and begged my son to get me some more. That was in 1893. I then obtained all the literature I could and read these truths with delight. I am now a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and get the Signs and other papers, which I give to others when I have read them.
A lady in the state of New York writes:—
A year ago I became acquainted with the only seventh-day keeper in this place. She gave me some of the Signs to read, and I have also read a great many of your publications, books, tracts, etc., but I think that which influenced me most especially was the Signs of the Times and “Prophetic Lights.” The Signs is a grand paper. I wish I was able to place it in the hands of all.
A sister in Minnesota says:—
I accepted the truth of the Sabbath from reading a few numbers of the Signs of the Times in the year 1880. The Signs is to me next to my Bible. I love its visits.
A brother in Texas says:—
The first thing that led me to studying the truth was the Signs of the Times, placed in my hands by an unconverted man. I thank the Lord for it and love the paper. I have got three others to take it and one of them is rejoicing in the truth. My prayers shall ever be for the paper.
A lady in Nebraska writes:—
I have learned of the Sabbath from reading the Signs. My sister in Michigan has it sent to me. I would be lost without the Signs now.
A brother in the state of New York writes:—
I received my first impression concerning present truth by reading the Signs of the Times, and I think it is the best paper that I have ever read. May the Lord bless it in its mission is my prayer.
An isolated brother in this state writes as follows:—
Some one sent me the Signs of the Times I think for six months, gratis; finally the sender sent me also some tracts of the S. D. A. publications with the request to give my opinion on the Seventh-day Sabbath and the near coming of the Lord. My sister, her grandson and myself are soundly converted. We have been Sabbath-keepers for some time and believe in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Signs of the Times is our preacher. We have never heard a Seventh-day Adventist preacher.