Recent Incidents in the Colporteur Work by W. W. Eastman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

Recent Incidents in the Colporteur Work

By W. W. Eastman

THE following are a few of the many incidents which have taken place in the colporteur work during the present year, and which clearly indicate that the Lord is using the present world conditions to arouse the minds of the people and open the way for the circulation of our literature as never before in the history of our work.

A man heard of a colporteur in the neighborhood, and for fear he might miss him, sent him a special invitation to be sure to call at his home. The invitation was of course accepted and a sale easily effected.

A colporteur called at a house, but the lady was away from home. This was not an unusual occurrence, and the worker passed on to other homes. Imagine his surprise to be overtaken later by a man with horse and buggy to take him back to the house from which the lady was gone when he called. She had returned, and when told of the colporteur’s visit, sent the hired man to bring him back, and after being shown the book, readily gave her order.

A young lady graduate of Syracuse University, New York, when shown “Bible Readings” by one of our colporteurs, was so anxious for the book that she could hardly wait to sign her name. She said, “It is just what I have been looking for. There are many ideas in the world, and I am all mixed up. I want to know what the Bible says.”

A colporteur was told that if he would call at the schoolhouse he would get an order. “When I got there,” he says, “I never saw any one apparently more pleased than was that teacher. I did not give her an exhibition, but handed the prospectus to her and gave her a brief synopsis. She gave me the order,

and said, ‘I am glad you came, for I had given up all hope of ever seeing you.’ She had tried to find me on both Tuesday and Wednesday, by telephone.”

Two student colporteurs near the Mexican border in Texas recently were furnished two United States soldiers to accompany them while delivering their books. The soldiers were provided by the government for the safety of the boys, as it was dangerous for them to go alone on account of the raids being made by bandits. This provision for their safety proved of great blessing, and was much appreciated. The boys delivered nearly one hundred per cent of their orders. As the Lord had greatly blessed them in taking orders, giving them as high as $247 worth a week, their summer’s work was made profitable to them from a financial standpoint, enabling them to return to school with money to meet their expenses. But, best of all, the truth has been placed in the homes of the people even in troublous times—in just such times as will more likely cause them to be read with inquiring minds anxious to know the meaning of these things.

W. W. EASTMAN.