Earlier text: The European DivisionSuggestive Program for Fourth Sabbath Service
[The following program was prepared by M. E. Ellis, missionary secretary of Nebraska.] READING: “A Consecrated Church Needed.” READING: “Opportunities for Service Now.” (Arranged for several to take part.) Collecting of missionary reports and the offering. THE year 1912 should be by far our best year for every kind of missionary endeavor. To make it so, it will be necessary to begin the first of the year to plan definitely, to act intelligently, and to continue persistently in missionary work. The suggestions given in the article “Opportunities for Service Now,” are for use now; and we suggest that where practicable the numbered sections be passed out to different individuals, and when read, time be given, after sections one, seven, and eight, for consideration as to how definite action can be had by the church. Let some immediate good results follow this service. “The church of Christ on earth is organized for service.” If nothing definite materializes from this program, it has entirely failed in its object. A Consecrated Church Needed
THE Word of God does not contain merely here and there a missionary chapter, or the music of a missionary psalm, or some clear word of prophecy, or some commanding word of Christ; but it is throughout an intensely missionary book, the missionary spirit being the very essence of its revelation; it is a book that responds with the sensitiveness of a divine sympathy, to the cry of the lost but seeking spirit everywhere. It is a book that proclaims with every one of its tongues of fire, that there will be a people, instinct with its own spirit, by whom its sympathy and its offer of life and rest will be borne to every soul; in whom the great hunger for the redemption of the world has struck so deep that every one who is of that company must hunger with the same intensity and look out on the world with the very eyes of Christ. The church has been consecrated to this work by its Master; and when the consecration is accepted, penetrating not only assemblies and councils, but every little group of Christian people, penetrating like a fire that burns into men's souls and leaps out in flames of impulse and passionate surrender, we shall see missionary work done as Christ would have it done. In the apostolic church the Word of God sounded out from every believer, and we read that after the martyrdom of Stephen these believers “were all scattered abroad . . . except the apostles.” Then we read that they “went everywhere preaching the word.” The rank and file of the Christian army were to be missionaries. Each one was to say, “Here am I; send me.” The same thing should be true to-day. All are to go, and to go to all. Each is to make an honest attempt to obey the divine command. The Christian religion is a personal religion, and, under the power of the Holy Spirit, is to be communicated from heart to heart by personal testimony and influence. God's commands are enablings, and what is impossible with men is possible with God. The very impossibility, from a human standpoint, of the task of warning the world, holds the secret of the ultimate success that waits the faithful, earnest, prayerful, active church, because it drives her to the Source of all power for strength to do the work. The great missionary hero of the first century, and indeed of all time, was the apostle Paul. His soul was fired and consumed with zeal by the example and love of Christ, beholding in every one, however degraded by sin, a brother or sister to whom, for Christ's sake, he was indebted. He labored more than all the rest, and for twenty-five years or more, bravely endured every form of persecution that he might carry the gospel to every creature. His life and work, following so closely the example of Christ, will ever furnish a powerful inspiration to every missionary effort. The acts of Christ's apostles are not yet ended. A continuation of that wonderful story of missionary work may be found in the history of the early church during the first three centuries, when three million martyrs surrendered their own life-blood as a testimony to the truth of the gospel. During the middle ages God left not himself without witness. The nineteenth century has been called the “century of missions.” The great religious revival, starting with the Wesleys and Whitefield, gave the impulse to modern missions. God was opening the doors of the nations. Foremost among the many modern apostles of Christ who took their places on mountain heights of heathen darkness and sin, were William Carey, who in early life used to say: “My business is to preach Christ. I cobble shoes to pay expenses,” and what a work, under God, he wrought in India; Adoniram Judson, the apostle of Burma, who, after many years of apparently fruitless effort, being asked what were the prospects, answered cheerfully, “The prospects? Why, they are as bright as the promises of God;” Henry Martyn, the devout missionary to India and Persia; Robert Morrison, the father of Protestant missions in China; David Livingstone, who gave his whole heart and life to the redemption of Africa, and whose last words were a prayer for the Dark Continent. One of the most thrilling stories of missionary labors is that of Dr. John G. Paton, in the New Hebrides. Many times a day, during the first years of his work there, his life was threatened by those ferocious cannibals of the South Seas; but, trusting in God, he persevered till the wonderful grace of the Lord changed their hearts. It is an all-consuming love for souls, and a realization of the terrible results of sin, that nerve the Christian to do true missionary work. The law that governs moral values was stated by the Lord Jesus Christ: “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” A life spent on self and for selfish ends is wasted; but a life of denial of self is the way to secure eternal values. We are not here alone to get ready for heaven, but to do our Heavenly Father's will here. I am not in sympathy with those people who with folded hands are ever singing of the mansions, bright and fair, awaiting them hereafter. Such people fall far short of what Christ expects of them in service. Bishop Taylor said, a few years ago, that he would rather spend the next twenty years in Africa than in heaven. That is the fiber from which true Christians are made. We shall have all eternity to enjoy the rest and peace and plenty of the eternal mansions. Our business now, as well as our joy, should be to do the will of God, “who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Loyalty to him demands whole-hearted service. I have read of a Scotch shepherd who, on a dark, stormy night, discovered that three of his sheep were missing. He went at once and called out his faithful dog, and raising three fingers, said to her, “Three sheep missing; go!” and she at once darted out into the storm and darkness, and in about an hour returned with two sheep safe and sound. The shepherd took them to the fold, and again counted the sheep to make sure that he had made no mistake, and found that one was still out in the cold, dark night. With a heavy heart he again appeared at the door of the kennel, and called out his faithful helper, and lifting up one finger, said, “One sheep missing; go!” She looked up piteously into his face, and down to her little ones in the snug, warm house, and then, forgetting her weariness, she darted forth once more into the darkness of the night. An hour elapsed, and yet no return. The shepherd grew anxious as two and three hours sped by; but at last his vigil was cheered by the return of the dog with the sheep that was lost. But the dog was so bruised and bleeding by reason of the thorn-bushes and the fightings with the mountain wolves, and so exhausted by the long weary journey, that when she had delivered her precious charge into the shepherd's hands and received his approving smile, she fell dead. O brothers and sisters in Christ, is it true that the dumb brute, with no hope of a future life before her, would leave all that was dear to her, and face every danger, and lay down life itself, just to please her master; and do we hesitate to make any sacrifice for our Master? We spend far more for needless things than we do for the Lord's work. To conform to social customs, we have increased so greatly what we are pleased to call our expenses of living that we have comparatively little time or money to devote to taking the news of salvation to a lost world. O that we might have a baptism of consecration; that we might be wholly on the altar; that the Lord by his Spirit might send us forth into his harvest! Opportunities for Service Now
THE cause of God needs something besides the well wishes of his people at the present time. It needs their determined efforts. There is all the difference in the world between a lukewarm desire and a red-hot purpose. The whole-hearted purpose is what we need right now. The opportunities for helpful16service were never so numerous as now. They are not only about us on every side, but they are insistent in their demands to be filled; and he, whether adult or youth, who does not see about him every day of his life, work for Christ that he ought to be doing, is in a sad condition. “A thousand doors of usefulness are open before us. We lament the scanty resources at present available, while various and urgent demands are pressing us for men and means. Were we thoroughly in earnest, even now we could multiply the resources a hundredfold. Selfishness and self-indulgence bar the way.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 38. A few definite suggestions which should be talked over and some of them adopted this day, are given here. Always prominent among plans of work for the winter months is Work With Our Periodicals
1. In this work we can accomplish the most good with the same expenditure of energy by directing our efforts along the line of the questions uppermost in the public mind. The special activity of the Catholic Church in this country, and the different phases of religious legislation, are subjects of interest to a larger proportion of the population than we imagine. The people everywhere need educating as to the motives underlying this activity, and concerning the true principles of religious liberty. And we have most excellent material with which to educate them. There never was a moment more favorable for the wide distribution in every way possible of the Protestant Magazine and of Liberty. From the standpoint of workmanship and attractiveness, these two papers stand in the front rank of periodicals. They are gotten up to attract and hold the attention of the public, and they seldom fall of accomplishing their object. The articles are spicy, well-written, convincing, and short, and squarely upon the topics in which the people are interested. These papers should be ordered by the thousands, and sold, lent, given away, sent through the mails, placed in reading-rooms, depots, libraries, and—to use the time-honored expression which, nevertheless, exactly describes what should be done with them—“scattered like the leaves of autumn.” These papers are quarterlies, costing twenty-five cents a year for a single subscription, or if ten or more names and addresses are sent in at one time, fifteen cents each; and it is a small company of Sabbath-keepers that can not raise enough in ten minutes for a club of fifty yearly subscriptions. 2. There are hundreds of our people so situated that they can give either the whole or a part of their time to work with our magazines as agents. What a grand thing it would be if every one who could spare the time would undertake the responsibility of an effort to put some of our papers in every home in a certain town or district! Many who have longed to do something effective for the Master but have not been able to leave home, can by this means put a complete series of sermons on the third angel’s message in many families. 3. There are thousands of busy people who can not spare much time from their regular work, but who could devote one or two evenings a week, or Saturday evenings at least, to the selling, lending, or giving away of our papers. 4. There are others who have felt a great burden for the souls of intimate friends and relatives. Why could not these take three, five, or ten copies of some of our papers and undertake to get the truth very fully before their friends during the next six months? 5. There are many people who have absent friends to whom they would like to have papers sent direct from the office of publication. All such can make this arrangement if they wish. In fact, this is one of the very best ways to get the truth before those in whom they are especially interested. By following up this work with tactful Christian correspondence, they may be the means, under God, of saving many. 6. There are many invalids—members of the great “Shut-in Society”—upon whom God has permitted the hand of affliction to rest. These dear children of God have often felt that their hands were tied, that they could do nothing for the Master. But here is their opportunity. They can mail a few papers to their friends and relatives in whom they are particularly interested. One sister, with whom I am personally acquainted, who undertook this work, had the satisfaction of knowing before her death, which occurred last summer, that not less than one hundred persons had accepted the truth as a result of the literature sent and the letters accompanying it. One of our conference missionary secretaries reported that she had used a club of one hundred of the weekly Signs of the Times, in missionary correspondence with names of interested persons received from various sources. The result was that the least number of persons brought into the truth in any one year during the five when this work was carried on was seven, and one year there were sixteen. We all recognize that one of the most effectual, and at the same time least expensive ways of reaching the masses with the message, is with our publications. Our canvassers are doing a splendid work, and are meeting with marked success with our subscription books; but our periodicals also have their place, and are doing their work. Many will remember the testimony that came to us a few years ago: “It is a fact that the circulation of our papers is doing even a greater work than the living preacher can do.” And this, no doubt, is because all can have a part in circulating the papers. Letters are constantly coming to the publishers of our periodicals, from persons who have become interested in the message, from receiving a chance copy of a paper in some way. What a blessing it is that we have such a wealth of literature with which to prosecute the work! 7. A good and efficient work may be done by the placing of reading-racks in hotels, depots, and other public places, and then keeping them well filled with our publications. One or two of your number could be appointed to see to the supplying of such racks for perhaps a month, and then others chosen for the next month. The ones chosen could collect an abundance of papers from the families of Sabbath-keepers, and in this way much literature that now goes to waste could be used to good advantage. 8. In many towns Saturday night is the time when the streets are most crowded with people and farmers’ teams. Appoint some one to gather papers, and place one in every farmer’s wagon along the street on this night. Many have been influenced toward the truth in this way. None of this work should be done carelessly; not even a single paper should be hastily dropped in a farmer’s wagon without a silent prayer going up to God that in some way he will use the message in the paper to reach a heart. “God has set his mighty hand to the redemption of the human race. Through the mysterious union in Christ of the human and the heavenly, he has exalted us to be coworkers with him, through the working of his power in us. It is our privilege to be endowed with the calm strength that proclaims our heavenly parentage, with the holy zeal which by inheritance we share with our Elder Brother. Can it be that like the people ‘who began to make excuse,’ we are indifferent to the honor bestowed upon us? that now when the forces of the world, natural, social, and political, are stirred to unwonted activity, and spiritual Samsons are needed everywhere, faithfulness and love of ease and love of the world shall shear our lives of power? And still the insistent cry of our Lord comes ringing through the centuries, ‘Pray ye . . . the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.’” “Laborers wanted! The ripening grain
Waits to welcome the reapers’ cry.
The Lord of the harvest calls again;
Who among us shall first reply,
‘Who is wanted, Lord? Is it I?’” “The Master calls, but the servants wait.
Fields gleam white ’neath a cloudless sky;
Will none seize sickle before too late,—
Winds of winter come sweeping by?
‘Who is delaying, Lord? Is it I?’” Conducted by the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Department of the General Conference MATILDA ERICKSON — Corresponding Secretary In these days of hurry and bustle, we find ourselves face to face with a terrible danger; there is no time to be alone with God. The world is running fast; we live in what is called the “age of progress.” “You know we must keep pace with the times,” the world says. And this spirit of the world has not confined itself to the world. It is, alas! to be found among the saints of God; and what is the result? There is no time to be alone with God; and this condition is immediately followed by no inclination to be alone with him. And what next? Surely the question does not need an answer. Can there be any condition more deplorable than that of a child of God who has no inclination to be alone with his Father? This “desert life,” as we may call it, has an importance that can not be overvalued. Let us turn to the pages of God’s own Book, for we can turn nowhere else if we are seeking light on this subject. On scanning its precious pages, we find that the men of God—God’s mighty men—were those who had17been in “the school of God,” as it has been well called; and his school was simply this: “in the desert alone with Himself.” It was there they got their teaching. Far removed from the din and bustle of the haunts of men, distant alike from human eye and ear, there they met alone with God; there they were equipped for the battle. And when the time came that they stood forth in public service for God, their faces were not ashamed; nay, they had faces as lions. They were bold and fearless, yea, and victorious for God; for the battle had been won already in the desert alone with him. If it is an Abraham we look at, we find him sweetly communing with his God, far away yonder in the plains of Mamre, sitting in his tent door in the heat of the day (Gen. 18:1), while his worldly nephew is keeping pace with the spirit of the age in ungodly Sodom. If it is a Joseph, we find him at least two full years in God’s school—although it was Egypt’s dungeon—before he stepped up to teach her senators wisdom (Ps. 105:22), and to “save much people alive” (Gen. 50:20). If it is a Moses, we find him at God’s school in the back of the desert (Ex. 3:1); and then, but not till then, he appears publicly as a deliverer of the people of God. If it is a David, the wilderness for him is the school of God. There he slays the lion and the bear (1 Sam. 17:34-36), when no human eye is near. He gets the victory alone with God. Fresh from God’s school, he steps before the thousands of Israel; and while all Israel follows Saul, the people’s man, “trembling,” there is one there who trembles not; and he is the one who has been at God’s school in the wilderness alone with him. Surely little wonder, then, that the Lord wrought a great victory in Israel that day! But why multiply instances from the Book of God? We might tell of an Elijah, a bold witness for God, who spent more time alone with his God than in standing in the place of public testimony, and who found the solitude of Cherith (1 Kings 17:3) and the quiet seclusion of Zarephath (verse 9) a needed training ere he delivered the message of God. We might tell of a John the Baptist, who was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel (Luke 1:80); of the great apostle Paul, whose journey to Arabia seems to have been for no other purpose than to be at God’s school in the desert (Gal. 1:17). But from the instances we have already mentioned, nothing can be clearer than this, that if you and I are to be of any use to God,—if we would glorify him on earth,—we must have time to be alone with him. If we “can’t get time,” we must take it. Whoever or whatever is put off, God must not be put off. We must have time,—every one of us, “gifted” or “not gifted,”—we must have time to be alone with God. It is in the closet that the “lions” and “bears” must be slain. It is in the secret presence of God, with no one near but him, that the spiritual Agags must be brought out and hewn in pieces before the Lord (1 Sam. 15:33). Then, when we appear before our brethren or the world, we shall find ours to be the “strong confidence” which is the portion of all who have to do with God in secret. And the “Goliaths” shall be slain; no doubt of that. And God’s work shall be done; no doubt of that either. We need not fear that God will not use us. It is only by being in God’s school that he can use us—not perhaps in the dazzling way that the world and many Christians admire; but in his own way,—in a way that shall most honor him. But the Lord makes all these things clear to us while in the desert alone with himself. It is only then we really do God’s work; it is only then we do it in God’s way; it is only then we do the very things God has fitted us for, and at the very time appointed of the Father. What secrets we get from the Lord in the wilderness with him! And if we care not for the secret of his presence, what cares he for all our boasted service? It is we he wants; and it is only service flowing out of the joy of his presence, that is worthy of the name. It is only such service that shall stand the test of the judgment, and bring joy in the day of Christ that we have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. May each one of us have an ever-open ear to the Master’s voice when he says to us, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,” remembering that though he were the Son of the Father, we find him time after time departing “into a solitary place,” and there praying, although in doing so he had to get up “a great while before day.” The Faithful Witness himself, as well as his faithful and trusted servants in every age, required a desert experience,—a wilderness teaching alone with God; and, beloved, so do we.—Selected. The Morning Watch Calendar
By M. E.
The preceding article has reminded you that in order to be Christians we must have communion with Heaven; we must spend some time alone with God. To help our young people and others to form this absolutely necessary habit of being alone with God, the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Department has for several years published the Morning Watch Calendar. There were three times as many calendars sold for 1910 as for 1908. Does not the fact that this little booklet is making friends so rapidly bespeak its helpfulness in forming the habit of personal devotion? Here are a few of the very many good words spoken for the calendar:— “Enclosed find five cents, for which please send me the Morning Watch Calendar for 1911. I prized the 1910 calendar very much, and do not want to be without one the coming year. I may have a chance to take orders. I sold several dozen last year.” “I have greatly enjoyed the Morning Watch Calendar for the last two years, and would not like to be without it.” “Please send me a dozen Morning Watch Calendars. I sold and gave away five or six dozen last year. I think they are fine, and so do others.” “I had the Morning Watch Calendar last year, and it has done me so much good I do not think I could do without it the coming year, so find ten cents for one for myself and one to give away.” “Since I began to read my Morning Watch Calendar, I feel better and stronger than before. I would not give it up for anything.” Will you secure a copy yourself, use it, and persuade others to do the same? Order the calendar from your tract society. Price, 5 cents each. M. E. WHAT various hindrances we meet
In coming to the mercy-seat!
Yet who that knows the worth of prayer
But wishes to be often there? Prayer makes the darkest cloud withdraw;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above. Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees. When Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel’s side;
But when, through weariness, they failed,
That moment Amalek prevailed. Have you no words? Ah! think again;
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow creatures’ ears
With the sad tale of all your cares. Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be,
“ Hear what the Lord hath done for me!” You Should Have It
By G. B. THOMPSON
If love of power consumed Cæsar, and love of pleasure consumed Mark Antony, surely the love of souls should consume God’s people, especially those who carry the last gospel message to the remnant of the human race. As a help to kindle in the heart a passion for the lost, I can heartily commend to all that most excellent spiritual booklet entitled “The Passion for Men,” by Edwin Forrest Hallenbeck. In a simple manner the author writes of the one great purpose, the passion for souls, which brought the Saviour from heaven to die for sinners. The book is helpful, and should be read by all our young people. Reading Course Enrollment
REPORTS indicate that the Reading Courses are enrolling very many young people this year. Judging from the sales of books, this promises to be the banner year. There are some societies where all the members are taking either the Senior or the Junior Course. One society in the West Indies reports twenty Reading Course members. We are grateful for these cheering reports when we remember that good books have a powerful influence over the careful reader. The Minister’s High Calling
“WHEN a minister of the gospel applied to President Lincoln for an appointment, the president replied: ‘My dear sir, you now have an office and an appointment above any within my prerogative of bestowing upon you.’ Mr. Lincoln had the true conception of a minister’s high calling. There is nothing like it. The minister is an ambassador for God, a bearer of good tidings from the King of kings.” Quietness Better Than Strife
“BETTER is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” Two Years’ Work in South Africa
By G. H. Clark
“THANKS be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Eternity alone will reveal all that the two years, ending Aug. 31, 1911, have meant to this field. God has wrought wonderfully for and with his people in every way, especially in the circulation of our books and periodicals. At the beginning of this period the Natal-Transvaal Conference established a city mission in Johannesburg, our largest city; and from this center about fifty thousand magazines and papers, (valued at $4,700) and three thousand books (valued at $3,800) have gone out to lighten the spiritual darkness, and to bring souls to Christ. The American Life and Health, Watchman, Bible Training School, and Christian Education; the English Good Health, and Present Truth; and the South African Sentinel, De Wachter (Dutch paper), and Signs of the Times,—the latter less than two years old, but very popular,—are the chief periodicals handled by the workers. “Story of Daniel,” “Seer of Patmos,” and a few other books have been used. Johannesburg is the largest gold-field in the world. Its monthly output amounts to $10,000,000. People flock here from all countries of the world, many remaining but a short time. In this way the literature that is sold is carried to all quarters of the earth. Many of the miners are here without their families, or friends; and after reading the books and magazines, they send them home, and again the light shines upon the pathway of judgment-bound souls. The results of the work done at this place are very far-reaching. Every city, and almost every large town and village, has been or is being worked with our books and magazines. “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Great Controversy,” and “Patriarchs and Prophets” are the large books that have been used, and most of the orders have been for the morocco binding. One of our regular canvassers has reported ninety-four weeks’ work in the field, seven weeks’ in camp-meetings and institutes, leaving only three weeks in two years out of his regular work. The highest record of orders for any person for one day has been $120; for one week, $405; and for one month, $771. One canvasser has secured $3,780 worth of orders; another, $2,514 worth, of which $2,328 worth, or 93 per cent, was delivered. The total value of orders for books in this field for the two years, so far as reported, is $44,000. The total value of sales of periodicals has been $6,000, making a grand total of $51,000; and when we take into account that the total white population, with whom we work mostly, is only one and one-half millions, and that this population is scattered in a country a thousand miles long and eight hundred miles wide, we can truly say, “What hath God wrought!” Indeed it is the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in our eyes. To no man can we ascribe praise for all this, but we may be permitted to state that much of our success has been due to the loyal support of the union and local conference officers, especially the presidents. The canvassers, as a rule, have been true, self-sacrificing, and hard-working men and women. Several persons have been brought into the truth by their direct efforts, while others have come in through reading our literature, and many more are interested who we hope will yet accept the light. Several times we have spent a day in fasting and prayer for God’s blessing to rest upon our work, especially upon the deliveries, and marked answers have been given. We are truly grateful to the Giver of all past success and victory, and we turn with courage and confidence to the call to scatter the printed page like the leaves of autumn. A Postmaster Sells the "Signs"
By E. R. P.
A LETTER from Brother G. C. Hoskin, circulation manager of the Signs of the Times Monthly, quotes the following interesting incidents from a letter received from one of their colporteurs:— “While I was canvassing one day, a gentleman bought six copies of the Signs. In a few minutes he passed me again and handed me a dollar, saying, as he did so: ‘Give ten of those magazines to ten people for me, for I want to help on such a good work.’ “I sold a magazine to a postmaster, and he went into his office to read it, but soon came to me for another copy, saying that a friend who came in wanted the one he had. I sold him another, and later he came for a third copy. I asked him if he would like to have more than one, and he took seven, and sold them in less than thirty minutes. It seems as if we have only to stand and see the power of God when we are engaged in his work. “I pray that the Lord will send forth more workers, for the harvest truly is great. Why do we hesitate to enter such a blessed service?” Brother Hoskin further writes that the November circulation of the Signs magazine was 9,000 copies above the corresponding month of last year. General Agents, Take Notice!
By E. R. P.
CAN general agents sell books as well as talk about it? W. L. Manful, general agent of the Western Canadian Union Conference, answers this question, so far as he is concerned, in the following report of his personal work for nine weeks ending September 29:— | Week Ending |
Hours |
Exhibitions |
Orders |
Value |
|---|
| Aug. 4 |
33 |
49 |
29 |
$127.50 |
| Aug. 11 |
51 |
86 |
38 |
$166.50 |
| Aug. 18 |
60 |
108 |
58 |
$255.50 |
| Aug. 25 |
58 |
117 |
53 |
$215.50 |
| Sept. 1 |
54 |
83 |
28 |
$115.50 |
| Sept. 8 |
29 |
82 |
47 |
$190.50 |
| Sept. 15 |
58 |
91 |
36 |
$157.00 |
| Sept. 22 |
55 |
72 |
29 |
$120.00 |
| Sept. 29 |
54 |
79 |
36 |
$152.00 |
| Total |
452 |
767 |
354 |
$1500.00 |
This report shows an average of fifty hours a week, the sales amounting to $3.32 an hour. In two weeks and two days Brother Manful delivered $1,420 worth of books. We join with Brother Manful in thanksgiving to God for his blessing upon this effort. No words of commendation are too strong for such a record as this by a general agent. The number of hours per week and the continued success will have a powerful influence upon the work of all colporteurs in Western Canada. We shall look for this work to bear fruit next year. May the Lord bless Brother Manful in giving him a large number of faithful men who will follow his leadership and example, and let us pray that the blessing may reach many other fields. It will be well for all field and general agents to study this report, and ask themselves the question whether their own work, as leaders, would not be strengthened by such a report as this. “It is a good divine that follows his own instruction.” Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference E. R. PALMER - - - Secretary N. Z. TOWN - - - Assistant Secretary Seminary Students in South America
By E. R. P.
A LETTER from Brother Maximo Trummer, general agent of the South American Union Conference, refers to the arrival and work of Brethren Lorenz and Stauffer in South America. Early in the year, these brethren were sent from the Foreign Mission Seminary to join Brother Trummer in the colporteur work in the South American field. Brother Trummer writes:— “Brother Lorenz is doing good work. He has already taken eleven orders in a single day. Brother Stauffer came last Tuesday to make a beginning. With these two brethren together, I had the best time of my life. It is interesting to see them develop in experience day by day, to talk and plan with them about the future, and to pray for the success of the work in these great South American republics. I am having the most blessed experiences of my life. We pray that the Lord will make us all useful and true as laborers in his precious cause.” We are glad to hear from these brethren who were so recently sent to South America from the Foreign Mission Seminary. Let us follow them with our prayers. South America is called “the land of to-morrow.” There are great possibilities before our work in that continent. Faithful, true-hearted leaders are necessary for the development of the work. We pray and trust that these brethren will gain a rich experience and become strong leaders in that great needy field.