My memories of the beginning of Bible-reading work in the form in which it was introduced by Elder S. N. Haskell and followed by many other ministers and Bible workers, are somewhat as follows:
During the autumn of 1879, Mrs. E. G. White said to our ministers that there ought to be less preaching and more teaching at our camp meetings. It was some time before this made any serious impression upon Elder Haskell's mind, but in the spring of 1880, at the Hanford camp meeting, Mrs. White repeated this in such an emphatic way that Elder Haskell was thoroughly aroused. After thinking the matter over, he invited me to go with him, one morning, to the grain field nearby for a season of prayer. He said he could not quite understand what Mrs. White meant, and we talked the matter over and then prayed about it. Finally he said he would try it and see what he could do.
At a forenoon meeting in the big tent, he started in asking questions on leading features of our faith and asking the brethren to look up the texts that he cited, and to read them. After the meeting had proceeded in this way for perhaps half an hour, it began to rain. When it came time for the meeting to close, it was raining so hard that no one desired to leave the tent. So Elder Haskell extended his Bible studies until the meeting had continued nearly two hours. The people seemed delighted with the instruction and with the manner in which it was given, and they asked that other studies be conducted in the same manner. Thus, as far as I know, the Bible-reading work, in which Elder Haskell led out and others enthusiastically joined, was begun.
I now quote from a letter from Elder O. B. Starr:
"The first I knew of it, it [the Bible work] was begun at a camp meeting in Nebraska about 1882, where Elder Haskell led out in a long public Bible reading. He asked the questions, and the people responded from slips he had handed out. The impression made was deep and marked. The Spirit of the Lord signally witnessed to it. Personally I was greatly blessed. I think Elder Haskell's reading took in 190 questions."
Since this plan of Bible study made such a deep impression on many of the workers, in 1883 the General Conference authorized the publication of the Bible Reading Gazette, a magazine containing only Bible readings. It was published as a monthly, during the year 1884. Twelve thousand copies were used by laymen and missionary workers that year. No subscription price was placed on the magazine. It was intended especially for the workers. Each worker who sent in a certain number of Bible readings was entitled to a year's subscription. I think the number was three. Some wrote in who said they could not send readings, and wanted to know the subscription price. They were told that it would be $5. This was thought to be prohibitive, but many paid the price, nevertheless.
The desire for these readings was so great that in 1885 they were bound in book form. The book contained 288 pages, and was called "Bible Readings." Many copies were sold by a canvasser. This led Elder R. A. Underwood to ask for a revised edition, with illustrations. In response to this request, "Bible Readings for the Home Circle" was published in 1889.
Bible Work in City Missions
Elder G. B. Starr and, his wife opened the Chicago City Mission in 1884. They started their work by calling at the homes of the people, and distributing tracts. One day Elder Starr learned that Mrs. White was to pass through the city, and would have to wait an hour between trains. He decided to go to the station to see her. He asked her if she had any light on how the work should be carried on in Chicago. She said, "Take the Bible and go to the homes of the people." They turned to the Bible Reading Gazette, but found the readings far too long; so they prepared a small book called "Helps to Bible Study," for the use of the workers.
I entered the Chicago mission in the summer of 1885. As I remember it, there were at that time five workers besides Elder and Mrs. Starr. The next year, Elder Starr attended a number of camp meetings; and that autumn a number of States sent young ladies to learn to give Bible readings, so that they could help start city missions like the one in Chicago.
Bible Work Crosses the Ocean
In the year 1887 Elder Haskell took three of us Bible workers* to London. When we arrived, there was but one Adventist in the city —a woman with young children. The Lord blessed His own appointed work, and a number of churches and companies were raised up, by means of Bible work, in London and its suburbs.
Surely this plan of work was a "heaven-born idea," and God has richly blessed it in many languages in many parts of the world.
* Hettie Hurd, Helen McKinnon, and Jennie Owen.
