ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM FAITHFUL WORKERS
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
You will undoubtedly rejoice to know that your visit to our city has given new and increased impetus to the Colporteur work here. We come in contact daily with some who heard the afternoon address on "To Hell and Back" or have heard reports of same, and it has awakened a desire to investigate these new doctrines, and it gives us the delightful privilege of assisting such inquirers in these matters.
A number who have gotten the books lately are taking an active interest in these precious truths, and their expressions and testimonies give evidence of their growth in grace and knowledge. We have begun a meeting at our stopping place on Tuesday evenings, especially for beginners. These meetings are increasing from week to week in attendance and interest. We ask for your prayers that we may receive grace and wisdom from on high to fitly represent the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, that we may act and speak as the ambassadors and oracles of God.
We are meeting with triumphant success in the Colporteur work. I have just returned home from a delivery of 143 books. It is hard work, but the joy connected with it more than compensates us for the physical strain, and when we think of the joy and bliss that await us if we continue faithful unto death, all the toils of the road will seem as nothing.
May the Lord prosper the work of harvest in your hands, and give all the dear co-laborers a share in his suffering and service here, to the intent that we may also become vitally united to him and to one another in the glories of his Kingdom, is our ardent prayer.
Yours in the bonds of love and fellowship,
H. BOEHMER,--Colporteur.
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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
My two sisters (Mamie and Frieda) and I have just arrived home after spending nearly eight weeks in the Colporteur work, and thought you would be interested to learn of our success. The last two weeks were very rainy, so we lost quite a little time. We went from here direct to Ft. Dodge, a place of 10,000 population, and worked there a little less than three weeks. Before we started we planned the whole route, how many books for each place, etc. We ordered 1300 volumes to Ft. D., and expected to sell at least 1000. But when we started to work we found the city had been worked very thoroughly by Brother and Sister McFarland and consequently there was considerable opposition, which made it harder to secure orders. However, when we came to add up the amount of books sold, we found it to be 960 volumes, or very nearly the number we had anticipated.
From here we took different routes, Mamie and Frieda going together, taking the larger places, and I the smaller ones. The larger places had also been previously canvassed and there was a great deal of prejudice, etc. At Webster City their work was made exceedingly difficult when the Baptist minister, a very influential man, announced in Church that the books were unorthodox, and if anyone wanted information to call on him, etc. However, with special effort they were still able to secure an average of nearly fifteen volumes per day in that place. The places I visited were towns of 600 to 700, one of 1000 and one of 2000 population, most of them not having been previously canvassed, so I sold nearly as many volumes in the same time as my sisters. In 41 days of work I sold 1012 volumes and they in nearly the same time 1399, or the three of us a total of 2411 volumes. It was hard work, but in all we enjoyed the trip very much.
We feel very thankful to our heavenly Father for this opportunity of service and also for the method which he has supplied through the "Hints to Colporteurs," by which the less gifted colporteurs are enabled to do so well. Surely the Lord has been with us and has blessed us both spiritually and materially. We trust that the dear Lord will grant us still further privileges of service.
I wish also to tell you that we continually remember you in prayer, that you may be granted strength for your trials and labors as in the past.
As ever your brother in him,
A. E. SCHLATTER.--Colporteur.
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[page 222]MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST:--
While waiting here for train, en route for Kokoma, will write you a few lines in re the Indianapolis Convention, recently adjourned.
While it is possible that some previous conventions were just as good, and as edifying to others, the writer was more edified and built up spiritually at the Indianapolis Convention than at any of the others. Probably that can be accounted for in this way: I made more diligent effort to get ready for it than ever before --by prayer and the best effort possible to get my heart into such an attitude before the Lord, the Truth and the "brethren" as would make it susceptible to the spirit of the Truth.
In my humble judgment it is for similar reasons the [page 223] friends who attend the conventions almost invariably pronounce the last of the series the best. The Spirit of the Master--the spirit of love--which was in evidence at the last Convention was beautiful to behold. I praise God that it was my blessed privilege to be there! The General Conventions and One-Day Conventions are evidently being used of the Lord as channels of much blessing to his people. The study of the Word and the fellowship participated in on such occasions are building up the brethren in the "most holy faith" to a degree that is very gratifying to us--and we believe that it is to the dear Lord also.
Dear Brother, it was a source of much pleasure and profit to the writer to meet you again and hear so many precious truths fall from your lips. I trust that the Convention gave all who were in attendance a fresh incentive to "run with patience the race set before them," and to engage in the "harvest" work with renewed zeal and energy. I praise God that it had that effect on myself. It was a pleasure also to meet so many dear Colporteurs and several Pilgrim brethren. What a source of spiritual strength it is to have fellowship with such a noble band of laborers in the Master's vineyard! For my part, I desire to become more and more acquainted with them--even on this side the "vail."
With much Christian love and very best wishes, your brother and servant,
FRANK DRAPER,--Pilgrim.
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[R4032 : page 223]DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
I would like to tell you of how much blessing the Colporteur work has been to me this past year. Of course it was entered, from a human standpoint, as one setting sail on strange waters, but the Lord has been as many waters round about to bless, strengthen and cheer.
It seems that I have received blessings multiplied, of which I feel very unworthy and hope that they have not been bestowed in vain, but that all may redound to his glory.
Many have seemed interested and like the books. One dear sister that I would like to mention, who got the books from Sister R__________, is greatly rejoicing in Present Truth. She says that she has learned more in reading the six volumes of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES than she did during her thirty years as a member of the Lutheran Church.
Praying that you may be kept faithful, and thanking you for the encouragement to the colporteurs from time to time, I am, as ever, your sister in Christ,
PEARL ELLIS,--Colporteur.
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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
My wife and I have come into the Truth since last December, Brother L. W. Jones being the instrument used by God to bring the Truth to us. We were Baptists. About three weeks ago the minister called, but would not answer my wife's questions, saying, "It's no use," and he got angry. My wife said to the minister, "If I were a sinner you would plead with me three or four days to get me to accept Christ; now you believe that I am going the wrong way and you will not show me where I am wrong." He replied, "It's no use!" On Monday, April 30, she was handed a page from the monthly Church Record, which contained the following: "The MILLENNIAL DAWN, with its soul sleeping, denying sin, Christ's deity and atonement, the fact of hell and much more, has carried away Mr. and Mrs. J. and Mr. and Mrs. F. into its deceitful current."
We believe we should send letters to the members of this Church and ask you for a suggested letter which can be sent to them. I am told that you have a regular letter, but do not know whether it will apply to our particular case. I should have said that when the minister called on my wife he told her that we should ask to have our names dropped. Truly, Brother, they have cast us out of the synagogue, whereof we are glad, and pray that we may live with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love. We thank God that you have been used to shed the light of his Truth abroad, which has come even unto my family. Already four of our friends are interested. We pray that the Lord will keep adding to the light he has given you, and that you may be sustained and guided in all things. We await your advice regarding a letter.
Your brother,
ABNER D. FLANNER.--Ill.
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We rejoice to note the opening of other blinded eyes of understanding. God's blessing will surely attend those who when they see are prompt to confess [R4033 : page 223] and obey the voice of the Light. We counsel that the Baptist minister be not too harshly thought of--that his "blindness" be remembered. What the Apostle Peter said of those who delivered up our Lord will apply to many now: "I wot that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers."--Acts 3:17.
The "Withdrawal Letters" referred to are well adapted for use by those withdrawing from any human organization called a Church. There is but one true Church of the living God, "whose names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20.) We supply these "Withdrawal Letters," with envelopes and tracts free, in any quantity. We advise that they be sent to every member of the Church withdrawn from. This is not only an excellent way in which to bear witness to the Truth, but a safe way to guard against misunderstanding and misrepresentation. For--we say it with sorrow--some ministers and Church officials do not notify the congregation of the withdrawal, but allow the impression that the withdrawing one has defaulted on and thereby denied his vows of membership. Still worse, in some cases ministers have deliberately misrepresented the facts--to prevent others of their congregations from examining or hearing further along the lines of the Truth. In one case the withdrawing one was reported violently insane on religious subjects; and all were advised to avoid him lest they should make him worse. Our advice therefore is, By all means use these letters --and use them freely. It will be one of your best opportunities for sowing Present Truth.
--EDITOR.