Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Books and Tracts 631The view was given to correct those who at such meetings so far camedown from the dignity of their work as to spread out before the crowdmerchandise which had no connection with the work.Our ministers who enjoy a comfortable state of health may, with thegreatest propriety, engage at proper times in the sale of our importantpublications. Especially do the sale and circulation of such worksas have recently been urged upon the attention of our people, claim [689]vigorous efforts for them at this time. In four weeks, on our tour in thecounties of Gratiot, Saginaw, and Tuscola, my husband sold, and gaveto the poor, four hundred dollars’ worth. He first set the importance ofthe books before the people; then they were ready to take them as fastas he, with several to help him, could wait upon them.Why do not our brethren send in their pledges on the book andtract fund more liberally? And why do not our ministers take hold ofthis work in earnest? Our people should see that these works are justwhat is needed to help those who need help. Here is a chance to investmeans according to the blessed plan of liberality. We can sometimesread men nearly as plainly as we read books. There are those amongus who put from one hundred to one thousand dollars or more intothe Health Institute, who have pledged only from five to twenty-fivedollars in the great enterprise of publishing books, pamphlets, andtracts, setting forth truths which have to do with eternal life. One wassupposed to be a paying investment. The other, as we might judgefrom the littleness of the pledges, is supposed to be a dead loss.We shall not hold our peace upon this subject. Our people willcome up to the work. The means will come. And we would sayto those who are poor and want books: Send in your orders, with astatement of your condition as to this world’s goods. We will send youa package of books containing four volumes of Spiritual Gifts, How toLive, Appeal to Youth, Appeal to Mothers, Sabbath Readings, and thetwo large charts, with Key of Explanation. If you have a part of these,state what you have, and we will send other books in their places, orsend only such of these as you have not. Send fifty cents to pay thepostage, and we will send you the five-dollar package and charge thefund four dollars. [See Appendix.]In this charitable book matter, all must act upon the great planof liberality, such as is carried out in the publication and sale of the [690]American Bibles and tracts. In many respects the course of these