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(372-373) ing to separate the business part of their letters, and so to write the letters that business items will be together, and separated from doctrinal questions, requests for pilgrim service, ete, This aids us greatly in handling the mail satisfactorily, because our work is divided into different departments, for its greater efficiency. The Editor receives very many letters which he greatly enjoys, but docs not answer. In the interest of the general work he seeks to confine his replies to matters and questions which seem really important. Please accept this exeuse, and ordinarily, address all correspondence to the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. Where convenient, you may mark the envelope in care of whichever department your letter is especially concerned with; as, for instance, Pilgrim Department, Colporteur Department, ete. Ordinarily, mail respecting subscriptions and questions should be addressed to the Society merely. This applies to the various branch houses also. Nevertheless, wherever there are questions of deep importance you are still weleome to address the Editor personally. Rest assured that he will do his best to give you a prompt reply. THE COLPORTEUR DEPARTMENT We still regard the sale of the Stupres IN THE ScRIPTURES one of the best indications of the progress of the work. Our total sales of the six volumes for the year amounted to 692,598 copies. Only one year ever exceeded this number—1908—when our total was 718,474. TWowever, the difference is probably fully offset, or more, by the fact that last year numerous editions were published in forcign lands for cheapness or convenience, and these do not show in this year’s report. We still continue to regard the dear colporteurs as amongst the most efficient servants in the harvest work. They are a nohle band. Additionally, they are learning better how to do effective servicee—they are hceoming more courageous. With the ripening of their own characters, they are enabled to speak the truth more forecfully than ever, and yet more gently, more lovingly. They are learning the meaning of the Apostle’s words— ‘Speaking the truth in love, grow up into him.’’ Some of the dear colporteurs are so efficient that there is pretty sure to be a, class of Bible students started, to meet regularly, in every town they canvass. They note, as they canvass, those who scem to indicate that they are true children of God, begotten of the Spirit, or hungry to know the Lord. These they nurse by repeatedly visting them, encouraging them to read the STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, helping them over misunderstandings and counteracting the evil influence of those who seck by slander to hinder them from reading and from true Bible Study. May the Lord’s blessing be richly with the dear colporteurs during the year beginning, encouraging, strengthening, blessing them! THE YEAR’S PILGRIM SERVICE No other year will at all compare with the one just closed in respeet to the amount of pilgrim work done and the apparent results. You know the dear pilgrims—their devotion to the Lord and his cause, and their willingness to endure hardness and to spend their strength to the glory of God and the blessing of his people. Their services are free; and as nearly as we are able the Socicty responds to requests for publie and private services of these pilgrims. Much, of course, must depend upon the size of the city from which the call comes, the convenience of reaching it, and the promises made in respect to a suitable auditorium. The Society has found that it is a waste of time and money to send pilgrims to places where only second or third class auditoriums are promised. In our day, when churches, theatres and lodges are all bright, clean, attractive and comfortable, we must not expeet the public to be attracted to very inferior places; for before hearing they do not know, they cannot realize, that we have for them a message transcendently superior to anything else they have ever heard. Remember that the expenses of the pilgrims are all horne by the Society, and that donations or collections are neither requested nor expected. We do, however, expect that these servants of the Lord will be esteemed by those whom they serve as worthy of food and clean, comfortable lodging. They expect no feasting nor special preparation, however. Incidentally, we advise all the brethren taking part in public mectings to give considerable attention to their apparel. Black clothing is always appropriate to the platform, and generally a skirted, or frock, coat. Only a white shirt and collar and a hlack or a white tie should be considered suitable. By this we do not mean that God is a respecter of persons and of clothing; but we believe that our message carries more weight if delivered by those who are plainly, modestly, but appropriately dressed. Everything loud, erude and eommonplace should be eliminated. The truth should have a respectable presentation; for it attracts chiefly those of respectable mind. THE WATCH TOWER Brooxtyn, N. Y. A WORD TO THE WISE Another thought: The introduction of the pilgrim should be considered so important that unless well done, it should not be done at all. It should be very brief and in well-chosen, grammatical language. The introductory prayer should also be very brief—merely an invocation—a request for the divine blessing upon the audienee and the speaker, with thanks for the mercies of the occasion. All language implying a division of the audience should be avoided—‘‘we’’ and ‘‘you.’’? It should be taken for granted that all present are Bible students, and no suggestion to the contrary should be offered. The meeting to follow should be announced briefly before the speaker is introduced. Where announcement eards are used, they should be distributed with the hymn slips, while the audience is being seated. The following summary of this branch of the work speaks for itself and needs no comment: Total number of ministers serving......... 80 Cities and towns visited...........-....4. 7,491 Total number of public meetings.......... 3,626 Total number of attendance............... $08,851 Semi-public meetings held................ 3,913 Total number in attendanee.............. 230,218 Parlor mectings held..................... 9,373 Total number in attendance............... 213,884 Total number of miles traveled........... 882,713 Grand total meetings held................ 16,912 Grand total attendance.................. 1,252,953 THE GOSPEL IN THE NEWSPAPERS Divine providence is still favoring the presentation of the Gospel in the public press. The efforts of the enemies of the Gospel of the kingdom to misrepresent our teachings and to prejudice editors and publishers against them have not prevailed. In this also we perceive that He that is for us is mightier than all they that be against us. The day may come when the truth will be crushed to the carth by slander and misrepresentation, but that day has not come yct. Indeed, in quite a number of instances the editors, although worldly men, have appreciated the situation, despised the unjust principle manifested by some preachers in their opposition, and have given space and prominence to our message. The latest figures given us by the Newspaper Syndieate which handles the Sermons and Bible Study Lessons in the United States and Canada show 1,424 papers publishing weekly. About 600 papers in Great Britain, South Africa and Australia publisn weekly. This in round figures represents 2,000 newspapers. How many millions of readers are thus reached by these papers we know not, nor can we tell how many of those reached are reading and being influenced. We do know, however, that the whole world is waking up, and that the truths we are presenting are gaining adherents and exerting influence everywhere, We trust that the Lord’s name is being glorified thus, and that many of his consecrated people are being ripened for the kingdom. We still recommend that Bible Students support their home paper or the papers nearest them which publish the sermons, rather than those at a distance—even though the latter might be cheaper in price. GOD’S MESSAGE FOR THE PEOPLE Our papers for free circulation amongst the people are titled Everybody’s Paper, Pcople’s Pulpit, and the Bible Students’ Monthly. These have a subseription price of twelve cents a year, but our list is comparatively small. The vast majority are circulated as sample copies—free. On the average they contain three attractive sermons each. The January Ist issue is generally used volunteering—for a nation-wide free circulation. Other numbers through the year are used for the announcement of Pilgrim meetings, Class Extension mectings, ete. Many of them are used for circulation instead of tracts. They are more attractive than tracts. The wise distribution of these on street cars, trains, boats, ete., as the friends go from place to place, is recommended. This is a form of service in which all can engage. And these little newspapers have all the rights and privileges of the larger newspapers devoted to politics, sports and advertisements. Quite a good many people come into a knowledge of the Truth through this ministry. The friends everywhere are invited to send for these free, in such quantities as they can and will use faithfully in three months. There should be no dead stock wasted in cupboards or garrets. As a part of the Gospel message each number should be considered too valuable to lie idle. Out total output of these various papers, issued free, and express or freight or postage prepaid, is represented by such large figures as to be beyond the comprehension of the majority [5366]