The True Missionary
By James White
Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 25, 1873. It is now fully decided to commence, with the new year, a monthly sheet entitled, The True Missionary to be devoted principally to the interests of the tract and missionary work among our people. Through the columns of this monthly, the system of organized effort in the line of tract and missionary work will be fully explained, appeals for vigorous action will be made, and reports of progress will be given. No one can estimate the importance of this organization, and but few can realize at present the value of a straightforward, spirited paper devoted to its interests. The ADVENT REVIEW AND HERALD OF THE SABBATH has an important mission of its own, and its already crowded columns cannot consistently be devoted to the tract and missionary cause. It is therefore thought advisable to issue, commencing with January, 1874, The True Missionary at the trifling sum of fifty cents a year in advance. We now earnestly invite the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD to become subscribers for this sheet. And we would here suggest that, as the first number will be issued early in December, there is no time for delay in forwarding orders for the paper. These orders should be given in plain handwriting, the name of the person, post-office, county, and State, to which it is to be sent, accompanied by fifty cents for each subscriber. We hope to make up a list of 5000 subscribers before December 25, 1873, to whom we can mail the first number without delay. The several officers of the Tract and Missionary Societies are especially urged to immediate action in securing the names and the pay of all who should read The True Missionary. Pass up the names and addresses, with the cash, brethren, and you shall have a sheet that will doubly reward all your efforts, if united, cheerful, hopeful, vigorous action can secure it. The brethren go out from our late General Conference with increased interest and zeal in the cause, their pens touched anew with the fire of love and devotion to the cause, and their souls imbued and burdened with the world-wide missionary work. The True Missionary will be issued, and will be a success. But that the success may be complete, the hearty co-operation of all is wanted. Send us subscribers; send in your cash; and let those who can furnish good original or selected matter, be sure to forward it to this Office. Address REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. JAMES WHITE, Pres. S. D. A. P. A. Missionary Work.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
The true missionary spirit is the same in every age, but the plans of operation vary from time to time in the history of the world. If the faith of the people of God embraced nothing of especial importance, and if they had no definite object before them to accomplish, then they would need no definite plan of action, and no especial stir need to be made by them. In fact, they would have no business to go from city to city, and from village to village, and unsettle minds, break up former customs, and, as it were, turn things upside down. But if God has spoken, and if they have a special message to bear, they must form definite plans of action, and enter zealously into the work which God has intrusted to them, and a stir must be made in the world. If God designs to arouse the world, it is folly to think that such a work is to be confined to one locality; for it must be world-wide in its proclamation, and corresponding plans must be laid for its advancement, that it may reach the different nations of the earth. We, as a people, have a message to bear to mankind, the most solemn of any to be found in the word of God. Upon its reception or rejection depends the eternal destiny of the world. It is the last message of mercy to fallen man. And we have reached a time in our history when the cry like that from Macedonia, “Come over and help us,” is heard from the Danes, the Swedes, the Norwegians, the French, the Germans, and from other nationalities. The calls come from people of every religious denomination of the present age. Those who are engaged in the work of the third angel’s message are in union with each other, no controversies existing among them. They bear the responsibility of a message which is designed to give warning of the near approach of the Judgment, and to show what is the necessary preparation for that event. Hence the question comes home with great power to us, How shall we meet the great responsibilities which devolve upon us? Shall we fold our hands and quietly sit down at our ease? And, on the other hand, if we give ourselves to the work, shall we enter into it recklessly and without any proper order of action, or any well-matured plan of operations? To act thus is to waste our strength and influence, and to insure defeat at every crisis. We have individuals among us of almost every tongue who have embraced the truths we cherish. As fast as publications on present truth are translated into other languages, we can, by means of a proper system of action which shall make the subject plain to all, take hold of this work as a people, and scatter the light of truth into every nation and people under heaven. The system adopted should embrace every nationality which we are able to reach, and our work should be embraced in one harmonious system. Already has the truth found its way by those silent messengers, the tracts, not only to all parts of this continent, but it has gone to the countries of northern and central Europe, and to Australia, New Zealand, and to the most distant parts of the earth, and to the islands of the ocean. Wherever these have gone, an interest to a greater or less extent has been awakened. In some cases, companies of believers have been raised up to walk in the truth, and to obey it. These persons are earnestly calling for help. Such being the result of accidental and disconnected effort, how great a work can be accomplished by us when the thousands now believing the present truth shall be prepared to act in unison like a well-disciplined army, and under a proper system of action shall respond to every opening of the providence of God, for the advancement of the cause of truth! They can thus in the most effective manner put forth their full strength for the advancement of the truth. The advantage of giving a tract or of sending the REVIEW to your friends is very great in the case of those who have a combative or arguing spirit. No matter how angry or excited those may be who read the tracts, they can never get up an angry or excited spirit in the works which they read. Each tract quietly and clearly tells its own story; and though the reader may get vexed many times, and even cast it aside with indignity, yet when he takes it up again, it will possess the same calm spirit, and in its clear and lucid manner set forth the precious truth of God. We have a Publishing Association which furnishes reading matter at the least possible cost. Then we have the Tract and Missionary Societies which have been organized for the express purpose of placing our publications in the hands of every candid, God-fearing person in the country. We do not recommend scattering our tracts indiscriminately like the leaves of autumn. The system of the Tract Societies guards against extremes, corrects errors in the manner of performing the work, and gives instruction concerning the best and most successful methods of accomplishing the same. The scattering of tracts is but one of many means to spread the truth. Our periodicals should have our special attention. Getting people to subscribe for them is in many respects more advantageous than it is simply to place tracts in their hands, except in such cases as demand an argument upon some particular point. It is proposed to send the REVIEW on trial at half price for the ensuing volume, which will bring its cost at 50 cents for the volume. Every one who loves the present truth should therefore interest himself to send the REVIEW for the trial volume now about to commence, to such persons as will read it with some degree of candor. Think of your friends far and near, whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa. We can reach men with the REVIEW wherever they read the English language. This trial volume of the REVIEW will accomplish the following purposes: 1. It will very fully acquaint those who receive it with our views of Bible truth. 2. It will give them an acquaintance with our history and work for six months. 3. It will give them fresh and varied reading each week for that period. 4. They will get an amount of reading matter equal to 2000 pages of tracts, and at the cost of only 50 cents. Let the Tract and Missionary Societies see what they can do. Thousands of worthy persons within the bounds of our several Conferences might be found within a short time, who would be interested in reading the paper. Many of them would become permanent subscribers and eventually be led to embrace the truth. A fund should be raised for the purpose of sending out the REVIEW in this manner. Every individual who pays 50 cents is entitled to send the REVIEW to one person, those paying $5.00 can send it to ten persons, and so for any number. The business should be done with the director of each Tract Society district, and the money be paid to him. The Society will assume all the risk of loss of money after it is once paid to a director, and will do all the necessary labor in the forwarding of the names and money and the transaction of the business connected therewith. Another part of the missionary work is to care for the poor and needy. See Deut. 15:7-11; Mark 14:7; Matt. 25:34-40. This care for the worthy poor is an important part of pure and undefiled religion before God the Father. Oftentimes, to help the poor to help themselves is the best assistance that can be rendered. We should not wait until they come to our doors, begging for assistance, but we should look them up and should take an unselfish interest in their welfare. Thus we may be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame, a father to the poor, and the cause we know not, search out. Who feels the burden of this work and realizes that it is labor for Christ? We do not say, Take the burden of all the poor that can be found. The Saviour says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” and in Matt. 12:48-50, the Saviour defines who are his brethren. See also Matt. 10:40-42. The names which have been dropped from the lists of our periodicals have been sent to the several Tract Societies for their consideration. The president of each Society should see that these are put into the hands of the several directors according to the residence of the person, and the director, or some suitable person employed by him, should visit each such person in his district, and learn whether they are poor or not, and, if possible, get them to resubscribe. This should be promptly attended to. This kind of labor will require a sacrifice of time and means. But is it not a privilege to sacrifice for Christ’s sake? Each director should acquaint himself with every individual member of the Society in his respective district. He should pray with their families, understand their necessities, and as far as practicable relieve those that are in distress, and if necessary report their cases to the board of directors for action. He should also see that all are paying Systematic Benevolence, and that all are subscribers for our periodicals, and that all take a part, if possible, in sending the REVIEW to their friends on this trial volume, and that they all participate in every good work. The act of writing letters adapted to benefit and help those who are in temptation and to lead the inquiring to Christ and the truth, and the sending of tracts by mail is also a means whereby much good can be accomplished. No idle spectator should be found in the ranks of the people of God. We should stand as minute men on picket duty, ready to fill any opening, or perform labor in any sphere of action, so that we may be the means of spreading the light of that truth which is to prepare men to stand in the last day. The work of the Tract Society brings into the field every man, woman, and child, and gives them all an opportunity to exert an influence in behalf of the cause of God. Young ladies who understand the hygienic system of treating disease, and who are possessed of the true spirit of consecration to God, may enter families which are in distress, such at least as are in some measure worthy of care, and may, by their effort in their behalf, not only relieve their distress, but also lead them to the sacred truth of God. We have those among us, who are conscientious, God-fearing persons, whose deportment would recommend the truth, who might in a judicious manner accomplish a noble work in this sphere of action. This has already been demonstrated in several instances. The true missionary work is simply the practical development of every principle of the Christian religion. It is disinterested benevolence exemplified in every walk of life. It is to have the heart drawn out for others, and it is to possess a willingness to lay down our lives for others if we may thereby save men and honor God. It is not therefore the design of the Tract and Missionary Society to personally benefit the individual members by supplying them with reading matter for themselves. Those who join the Society merely to procure reading matter for their own benefit have not yet imbibed a particle of the spirit of this work. People should never be invited to join on any such consideration as this, for such a motive is purely selfish, and utterly opposed to the true missionary spirit. May God save all the Tract and Missionary Societies from this poisonous leaven of selfishness, and may we all feel the importance of possessing that love in our hearts which cannot live without laboring to benefit and save others. Our Periodicals.
By James White
The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association having been established much on the basis of a charitable institution, and not simply to amass wealth, is now prepared to offer its periodicals to those who wish to send them to their friends, and actually pay for them for their friends, at half price. It also offers them to the several branches of the Tract and Missionary Society, to furnish to the worthy poor, to be paid out of the T. and M. treasury, at half price. Hence, in such cases, the cost of the REVIEW will be one dollar a year, or fifty cents for six months. The Health Reformer will be fifty cents a year, and the Youth’s Instructor will be twenty-five cents a year. Now is just the time to subscribe for friends. We hope to receive thousands of names accompanied with the cash, before New Year’s. JAMES WHITE, Pres. S. D. A. P. A. The Light of Friendship in Darkness
The light of friendship is like the light of phosphorus; it is seen the plainest when all around is dark. Some Great Thing.
By John Nevins Andrews
MEN are willing to labor for God when they expect the labor will bring credit to themselves. They are far from being ready to do this when they see nothing but painful toil and no prospect that they shall ever have their services acknowledged by their fellow-men. So it is generally the case that there are plenty of persons willing to work for God as soon as some great thing can be found for them to do, but who have no eye to see, nor heart to perform, the humble labors which are suffering to be done, but which will attract no notice except from the eye of God. Such action shows how little men realize the account they must render to God. God measures our conduct by the spirit which prompts it. The performance of humble acts for the purpose of honoring God and benefiting men, God will one day honor and acknowledge. But he will never acknowledge as done to him that which has been wrought to gain the esteem of men. Let us thank God that there is plenty of work to do which involves toil, and care, and self-sacrifice, and which is never likely to attract attention to ourselves or to inflate our spirits with pride. We have no occasion to seek some great thing that shall be worthy of our doing, and to stand idle, waiting for it to come. God gives us plenty of things to do, that we can render great in his sight by performing them with reference to his approval. We can put in the hands of those yet in darkness tracts which will shed upon them saving light. We can relieve the needy and distressed by helping them to help themselves. We can help forward the cause of Christ by our example of patience, humility, and self-control. Shall we not see what we can accomplish in these things? J. N. A. Our Position and Work.
By George I. Butler
It is always best when an important enterprise is to be performed to have a clear conception of its nature and importance, and what will aid in its accomplishment. Indeed, success cannot reasonably be expected without. For efforts will not be well directed, and there will be a failure to put forth those well adapted to secure the desired end. As a people, we claim to have a great work to do. A closing work of warning which shall bring us to the revelation of our Lord in glory, we are proclaiming. This warning, brought to view in the third message of Rev. 14, contains the most terrible threatening of the Bible. The unmixed wine of God's wrath, wrath with no mercy in it, is to be visited upon every one who rejects it. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ are the basis of reform to which the minds of every honest person is called. These are the great moral truths of the Old and New Testaments, the very truths taught by the apostolic church. The man of sin, the great apostasy, that mongrel system of heathenism and Christianity, which the devil caused to be developed, palmed itself off for ages upon the world as the true church of our Lord and Saviour. The great Reformation was not complete, and the Protestant sects have been wrangling more or less for near three centuries over various points of doctrine which the apostasy had obscured, until they have about made up their minds to fellowship all, however erroneous their teachings, if they think them only honest. While there were earnest efforts being made by these to reform upon various points of truth, God blessed them in so doing. But God cannot be pleased at this settling down, satisfied with such a mixture of truth and error, and with so little of zeal and sacrifice. Says God, “Woe to those at ease in Zion.” How much worse when that ease is connected with error and apostasy. Where are the men to-day in the popular churches who are earnestly seeking for light and wisdom to get out of this state of things. Are they not generally satisfied where they are, in a state of confusion? Are they not trying to patch up a sort of truce between themselves by calling their differences “non-essentials,” fellowshipping things which they believe are not true, that they may meet the powers of papacy and infidelity with a kind of united front? They call this patched up truce, union and brotherly love. Our grand evangelical alliances are nothing more nor less than a manifestation of this. Our Young Men's Christian Associations are designed to bring about the same end. The grand result then of the Reformation is now to be consolidated into a union of error and truth. They must acknowledge this from their own stand-point. Each denomination has some point of truth upon which they are strong. But for the sake of union with error, they call this non-essential. The tendency in this direction was never so strong as at the present time. God's pure, unadulterated truth has little to hope for from such a union as this. Truth cometh from God. Error is from Satan. These parties have never yet formed a partnership. They never will. We say the time has come when a grand reform upon all of God's truth is demanded. “The commands of God and Jesus' faith will shield us in the day of wrath.” That day approaches. It is very near. God's translated people shall stand clothed, not with the rags of papacy, but with the pure truths of his word, when Jesus comes. How beautiful the thought! We most confidently affirm that the third angel's message is a prophecy of this movement. We are prepared to prove it by the clearest logic. Like any other great movement which has permanently affected the welfare of mankind, this one has been laying its foundations slowly, surely, amidst adversity, opposition, and unpopularity. The fact that it has grown up in the midst of these opposing influences to its present strength and prosperity, so that its enemies look upon it with wonder, demonstrates the fact that there is a vitality about it that promises important results. We see the manifest hand of God in our history. This cause has been brought through many a crisis where human aid seemed wholly insufficient. Thus far we have been organizing various means and enterprises connected with the prosperity of the work. Internal as well as external difficulties have stood in the way of our prosperity. But we thank God that these have of late been vanishing, and light and union are coming in more fully than before. We have come to the time when we must reach out in all directions, and scatter the seeds of truth broadcast over the land. This message is to go to “peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” People will not believe these things. They despise this work. It remains for us to demonstrate the matter to their entire satisfaction. How must we do this? By setting before them a higher type of piety, honesty, earnestness, sacrifice, and true Christian philanthropy, than can be found elsewhere. And further, by causing the seeds of truth to be scattered broadcast over the land. We must act out an intelligent faith. Have we the truth of God for the last days? We think so. Then it must go everywhere. Every honest jewel must be searched out. The hard crust of prejudice must be cracked and the seed of truth be dropped in to germinate and bring forth fruit. Every nook and corner of the land must be entered. Other lands must be visited. Missionaries must be preparing by properly qualifying themselves for the work of the Lord. What are our young men doing here and there among our people? Getting rich? Laying up a competency for a rainy day far ahead? Then they are positively denying their professed faith. They claim to believe that day far ahead will be on the other shore. There is only one way they can lay up treasure there. By doing good with their talents of means and influence. The treasures of this world will be consumed in the fires of the last day, and their owners with them. That which is used for noble purposes is all that is saved. Our young men by scores and hundreds should be qualifying themselves for usefulness. They are drying up spiritually because they do not go to work. God will never give great strength and blessings to those who will not use them to benefit others. We talk about blessings to consume on our lusts, and what is that but to expect blessings mainly for our own happiness. Where are the young men who are really and intelligently qualifying themselves to carry this message everywhere? The coming winter is a good time to get ready by the study of the present truth and other necessary things to qualify themselves to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. If the work of God had that place in the hearts of the people that it should have, there might be a hundred preparing themselves to go out as well as not. The fields are white. The ears of the people are open. The truth is plain. There is a spirit of inquiry abroad everywhere. Our young men talk of the third angel's message, and the great work it is to do. Why in the name of all that is solemn and sacred then are they not preparing themselves to do something in this work? I mean young men who have ability to do something, and have shown it. Why cannot young men who can succeed in other things succeed here? They can if they only have genuine faith in God and his truth, and a willingness to sacrifice for it. We are in need of men more than money. We might pile up millions of money, and we should be lame without the men. As the apostle says, we want not yours, but you. We want men consecrated to God, who can suffer and do for him. We are far behind the providence of God. Openings are all around us. Perishing souls cry for light and truth, and our young men are working upon their farms to get rich. God will sooner or later visit for these things. He has already visited many by withdrawing his Spirit from them till they are dark and cold, and know not what is the matter. They need not expect to enjoy God's blessing while going contrary to Christ's example, and selfishly hiding the light which God in mercy has given them from others. God waits long, but he will spue out of his mouth at last those who have not the spirit of love in their hearts to work for others' good. Young men, look around you, and go to work for God. Our tract and missionary work is one of immense importance. It is now being organized in all our Conferences, and our people are being made acquainted with its aims and workings. The object of our new paper is especially calculated to strengthen this enterprise. We want all our people to be workers in the good cause of truth. The tract society makes this possible. Wherever we extend the circulation of our periodicals the seeds of truth are testing hearts. Prejudice is being removed. Could the Health Reformer and Youth's Instructor enter a hundred thousand homes the coming winter, we have no question but the way would be prepared for a rich harvest of souls. Our trial volume of the Review is a most important movement in the right direction. Just the matter the people need will be found in it. A special effort will be made to place those things before them which will be calculated to reach them where they are. The live issues of the present hour, they need to consider. What the Lord has said concerning the signs of the times, the law of God, the Sabbath, man's nature and destiny, the closing work of probation, and many other things which people must know, will find a place in it. Our people should everywhere make an effort to circulate and introduce it. Our writers who already have their hands full of cares will make special efforts to make this an interesting volume. We expect to see it excel in interest any past volume in these directions. Our Tract Societies have something to do this fall and winter, and we hope they will improve the time. Not only in the direction I have indicated can they work to advantage, but in circulating our books and tracts. We must scatter these everywhere a person can be found who has any desire to read. In the large list of subjects connected with the present truth, there are certainly some that will interest a variety of individuals. We are not to make an effort to cram reading down people's throats against their will, but by using a little common sense to find out, without disgusting them and closing their ears, what would be of interest to them, and then furnish it. If our people were not so inclined to be clannish and unsociable at times, they could be able to accomplish much more in this direction. Let us beware of the spirit that virtually says, “I am better than thou.” Let us reach the people where they are. If we have a better religion than our neighbors, we shall have a greater love for them, and make greater effort for their good. We want the silent messengers judiciously circulated all through the land. We want our hearts to be filled with interest for others. When we converse with our neighbors, we can, if we have the love of the cause of God, give the conversation such a turn as to bring in those truths which will lead their minds in the right direction. If we see that it excites a feeling of disgust, and is not pleasant, we can easily turn it in some other direction. We should refrain from contention and disputation, for these excite combativeness, and the person then is further off than before. The truth will never be received where it is not listened to with willingness. Here is where many of our people greatly err. They think to cram it down the people's will by force. Others never have any interest at all to do anything. They would be ashamed to speak of religion to their friends. They could talk glibly about other things, but that which was of greatest importance, they would not speak of. Why this fear and reserve? I know of no other cause but the fear of man and the fact that we do not really feel that love for our fellow-men that we should, and we prize the truth of God less than we should. We want to start out in this work with a greater interest than we have had. We want to act as though we believed what we profess to believe. We want to make our religion a reality. Then others will feel its importance, for our course will be a help to them. Let us wake up, brethren, and use the present time in circulating the truth in every way that is reasonable and proper. The battle will soon be over and the victory won. Shall we be on the victor's side? We shall if we are workers in the cause, and fight well the battles of the Lord. The true watchword is, Watch, pray, and work. Let us ever regard it. GEO. I. BUTLER. Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 23, 1873. The Missionary Spirit.
By John Nevins Andrews
The work of the missionary calls for consecration of the whole being to the cause of Christ. The man who consults his own ease, or his own convenience, or his worldly interest, is unfit for this sacred calling. “Neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course with joy.” In Paul we have the noblest example of missionary spirit to be found among men. So deeply was he imbued with this that he gave himself to this work without the smallest reserve, and never grew weary of it so long as life was continued to him. Much of his time he was in peril of his life, but this never caused him to stand back from the burdens and toils which were before him. He was whipped, imprisoned, and stoned. He knew by personal experience what is meant by hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness. His name was cast out as evil, and himself counted the filth and off-scouring of all things. Wherever he went, bonds and imprisonment awaited him. Yet he never ceased his labor, nor abated his zeal in their performance. It is worthy of notice that he labored as a man paying a debt which he esteems most sacredly binding upon him. “I am debtor,” he says, “both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians.” But how came he so heavily in debt to them? He had eaten no man’s bread for naught. He had no man’s money in his hands. He had not even coveted the wealth of others. So far was he from having been a partaker of their good things that persecution, or neglect, or defamation, was his only portion from them. Nevertheless, he labored for them, not as a man who places others under obligation to him, but as one who is discharging heavy obligations to others. What caused him to feel thus? He had received the knowledge of the saving truth of God. He had found forgiveness of his sins through the blood of Christ. And the infinite debt of gratitude which he owed to Christ was to be discharged by making known to others that Saviour who had extended mercy to Paul. And so he labored for men as one who owed his life to an ungrateful and heartless world. He never felt that he had cause to yield to discouragement, nor a right to cease his painful labors because of the cruel persecution of those to whom he carried the tidings of salvation. The love of Christ constrained him, and so he labored and did not faint. One thing was ever present before the apostle to keep him from swerving from his work, or from taking credit to himself for his unparalleled labors as a missionary of Christ. And this was the example of Christ himself. In him is seen the missionary spirit, of so exalted a character, that beside his mission and his sacrifice, that of Paul is as nothing. Paul was a missionary just so far as he was imbued with the spirit and influenced by the example of his Master. And we are Christians just so far as we partake of this spirit and no farther. If we are Christians, we cannot see men perish for whom Christ died without putting forth an earnest effort to save them. And this earnest effort to rescue our fellow-men from ruin will make all of us in some humble sense the missionaries of Christ. To the Tract and Missionary Society in Maine.
By J. B. Goodrich
A LONG winter is before us in this State, and now is an excellent time to make a special effort to get the truth before the people. Let each member of the T. and M. Society take hold of the work in earnest. And let us first earnestly seek God, and get the true missionary spirit, so that when a tract passes out of our hands, our prayers shall ascend to God for his blessing to follow it, that the truth presented by the silent preacher may fasten conviction upon the minds of its readers, and many souls be enlightened and brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. We shall soon be called to give an account of our stewardship, and what excuse can we offer if we have idled away our time, and not improved the golden moments as they have passed? Oh! what a day is before us. Soon the wrath of God will be poured out upon a guilty world. The last message of mercy is now being given. The world must be warned. The third angel’s message is a world-wide message; do we realize it? do we feel the burden of it? It is time to arouse. May the Lord help us to wake up to the importance of the times, and be in earnest. I am glad to report that our brethren and sisters in Aroostook County are feeling some burden in this matter, and are taking hold to send out the light and truth in all directions. Already we hear of good results; prejudice is being removed in many minds, and conviction takes hold of them. One said, the other day, I shall be obliged to stop reading or believe what they say. Not only are the tracts at work in this county, but they have crossed the line, and gone over into the Province of New Brunswick, and many are being convinced that they tell the truth. My prayer is, Lord, help us to realize the worth of precious souls, and the importance of becoming workers with the Lord. If we make the effort, God will bless, and give the increase. Monticello, Aroostook Co., Me., Nov. 17, 1873.