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The Pilgrim: A mission to the world

Authored by Caleb Daubenspeck

The Board pictured above contains the logo suggestions for The Pilgrim missions’ letter sent from the Pilgrim Fellowship Inc. as a monthly ministry update to their supporters. The phrase “Into all the world” was added to the logo in 1959.

In November 1959, E Schuyler English, editor, and president of the Pilgrim Fellowship addressed his supports, encouraging them to give towards the ministry and missions. “For nineteen centers, since our Lord told His apostles to be witnesses concerning Him to the uttermost part of the earth, one generation after another has followed the apostolic Christians in carrying the Gospel to those in darkness throughout the world” (English, E. Schuyler 1959b, 4). The small monthly letter sent out to supporters provided the supporters an opportunity to engage with missions around the world. In an earlier newsletter, English suggested that there are three ways that people can participate in missions to the poor and oppressed; those who can go, those who can support, and all can pray (English 1959a, 2). The newsletter allowed people to engage with missions overseas in personal missions and financially through gifts. 

The monthly newsletter followed a simple structure with each issue, a short message from E. Schuyler English, encouragements for life, and a report of the ministry’s gifts for that month. Each issue contained encouraging thoughts on how better to help those around us and around the world. 

The Board pictured above shows the design ideas for the newsletters heading. They depict the globe and the phrase “into all the world,” which captured the mission of the Pilgrim Fellowship Inc. (The Pilgrim 1960).The phrase was pulled from The Bible, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation,” Mark 16:15 (ESV). The verse captured the vision of the mission’s organization and thus served as a fitting addition to their logo. 

Who was the man behind The Pilgrim? 

E. Schuyler English was a scholar who served in many areas of ministry. Along with his leadership for the Pilgrim Fellowship, English also served in leadership positions for Revelation magazine from 1931 to 1939 (Ennis 1981, 1). He also served as “faculty of the Philadelphia School of the Bible from 1935 to 1947 and was its president from 1936 to 1939” (Ennis 1981, 1). English was the editor and chief of two committees to help with the translations of scripture, the Pilgrim edition published in 1948, and the New Scofield Reference Bible published in 1967 (Ennis 1981, 1). After the release of the New Scofield Reference Bible, English published A companion to the New Scofield Reference Bible, in 1972, which was structured “to help the reader bring into focus the perfect harmony of the Scriptures and the gain an understanding of the bible as a whole” (English 1971, vii). His expertise in scripture and his convictions to share his faith is evident in his writing for the Pilgrim. He desired to help people, the Pilgrim Fellowship, and the Pilgrim newsletter enabled him and others to serve those in darkness all over the world. 

References:

English, E., Schuyler. 1959a. “Pilgrim Missions.” The Pilgrim XVI, No. 5 (November): 2. Philadelphia: The Pilgrim Fellowship Inc. Print.

English, E., Schuyler. 1959b. “Pilgrim Missions.” The Pilgrim XVI, No. 10 (November): 4.  Philadelphia: The Pilgrim Fellowship Inc. Print.  

English, E Schuyler. 1972. A companion to the New Scofield Reference Bible. New York: Oxford University Press.  Print

Ennis, Thomas., W. 1981. “E. Schuyler English, Biblical Scholar.” The New York Times, March 18, 1981. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/18/obituaries/e-schuyler-english-biblical-scholar-81.html

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). 2001. Wheaton: Crossway. Print.

The Pilgrim: In to all the world. [1960?]. Illustrations, Ink on paper, 34 cm x 17.5 cm. Masland Library, Philadelphia.