Tract Societies

Tracts and tract societies are not a new thing in religious work; in fact, the idea did not originate in America, but overseas long ago. From the first some members in our churches, too, had distributed literature, each one more or less on his own. No one seemed to have realized what power there would be in an organized, methodical effort. In a vision on September 12, 1875, at Rome, New York, the servant of the Lord had a dream in which she saw “a young man of noble appearance” who said:FSG 353.2

“You have called the attention of the people to important subjects, which, to a large number, are strange and new. To some they are intensely interesting....FSG 353.3

“Tracts upon the important points of truth for the present time should be handed out freely to all who will accept them.... Tracts, papers, and books, as the case demands, should be circulated in all the cities and villages in the land....FSG 353.4

“You are not as a people doing one twentieth part of what might be done in spreading the knowledge of the truth. Very much more can be accomplished by the living preacher with the circulation of papers and tracts than by the preaching of the word alone without the publications. The press is a powerful instrumentality which God has ordained.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 216, 217.FSG 353.5

The response of the Adventist Church to this appeal for tract and missionary work was a disappointment at first. But soon a few took hold of it in earnest. Small bands or mission societies were organized here and there, which in time grew into conference tract and missionary societies, and later developed into our present very effective Home Missionary Department and the well-known Book and Bible Houses. “Vigilant missionary work must in no case be neglected.... The tract and missionary work is a good work. It is God’s work.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:602, 603. Many messages of cheer and instruction were given to help in the circulation of our truth-filled literature.FSG 354.1

Just twenty-four years after Elder Loughborough had begun to sell our literature, there came from the servant of the Lord a stirring message which almost revolutionized our entire literature activity. From this testimony, given in 1879, we quote:FSG 354.2

“Some things of grave importance have not been receiving due attention at our Offices of Publication.... Books that ought to be widely circulated are lying useless ... because there is not interest enough manifested to get them circulated.” “Men in responsible d positions should have worked up plans whereby our books could be circulated.... In all parts of the field canvassers should be selected, not from the floating element in society, not from among men and women who are good for nothing else and have made a success of nothing, but from among those who have good address, tact, keen foresight, and ability.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:388, 389. (This same chapter was later printed in its entirety in our church organ as our leaders endeavored to begin the colporteur work.—The Review and Herald, April 4, 1882, page 209.)FSG 354.3

We venture to say that few if any messages from the servant of the Lord have meant as much for the advent movement as did this testimony. It resulted in the birth of our world-wide literature mission, as represented in our gigantic colporteur work. The response too, was most gratifying. James White, J. N. Loughborough, and other strong leaders began to plan and to agitate for a new kind of subscription book activity. Several capable and godly men felt called to pioneer the colporteur road. Of these the best known now is George King. Uriah Smith’s two books, Thoughts on Daniel and Thoughts on the Revelation, had first been bound separately and sold as trade books. Brother King urged that these be bound in one volume, well illustrated, and sold by agents from house to house. He alone guaranteed to sell five thousand copies if the publishing house would take hold of the enterprise.FSG 354.4

In the library of the Review and Herald Publishing Association at Washington, D.C., there is the first bound copy of Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. On the inside cover of this leather-bound volume we find the following note by D. W. Reavis:FSG 355.1

“To my personal knowledge this is the first copy of the first large subscription books bound for the denomination by the Review and Herald Publishing Association. A small edition of the combined single copies on ‘Thoughts on Daniel,’ and ‘Thoughts on the Revelation,’ was bound, upon the earnest solicitation of Brother George A. King for his personal use.FSG 355.2

“While waiting for the books to be bound, Brother King worked by my side sorting broom corn in the Lewis Broom Factory, of Battle Creek, Michigan. He counted the days as they passed, talking continuously about the possibilities of subscription books in teaching the world the ‘third angel’s message.’FSG 355.3

“On the day, and at the very hour, he was promised the first finished copy (at 9 o’clock AM, April 3, 1882), Brother King left the factory and went to the Review and Herald office and secured this, the first completed copy. With great pride and enthusiasm he brought it back to the factory to show to his fellow workmen. After the exhibit was made Brother King insisted I should buy this first copy for ‘good luck’ to the subscription book work of the denomination. At first I ridiculed the idea, but finally yielded to the persuasiveness of Brother King and paid him $2.50 and took the book. Its value now cannot he estimated in money. It exists as a visible evidence of God’s leadings in men’s and institutional affairs for the development and the completion of His final message to the world.”—D. W. Reavis, May 14, 1920.FSG 355.4