The Work of Our Publishing Houses and Colporteurs by W. W. Eastman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 21, 1915

The Work of Our Publishing Houses and Colporteurs

By W. W. Eastman

FOR a number of years commercial work of all kinds has been eliminated from our publishing houses, and they have each been wholly engaged in the preparation and production of literature, the object of which is to give the third angel’s message, or the “gospel of the kingdom,” to all the world in this generation.

While the rank and file of our people are doing more or less in the way of circulating the products of these institutions, the larger part of their products is circulated by men and women who are making a specialty of this work, and they are our colporteurs.

Neither our publishing houses nor our colporteurs are in any sense commercial agents, but purely evangelical. Their work is “according to the gospel.” Gospel sermons, Bible readings, and heart-to-heart talks in printed form, are being carried to and placed in the homes of the people, where they are being read and studied by many of earth’s millions.

Visit of Human Agent Also

Not only does the colporteur circulate the gospel message in the form of the printed page, but his work is that of personal touch as well. Each canvass he gives is a short discourse, direct to the one-soul audience; and how many times does that one soul, like the woman of Samaria, carry the message to many others. While it is true that many do not respond to his earnest entreaties, the colporteur is often refreshed as he sees the eyes of his listener moistening with tears, and the heart swelling with feelings of emotion, as he briefly unfolds the meaning of current events in the light of the Bible. Many times his visit is concluded with an earnest season of prayer, and not only has his own soul been blessed, but others have been made to feel that a messenger with a message, a true servant of God, has visited them, and the book is read with this sort of image deeply impressed on the mind.

Fireside Opportunities

Many are the opportunities of the colporteur to minister to whole families at their fireside. A Bible reading or perhaps a Bible study is given, and truths heretofore undreamed of by them are unfolded to their astonished minds. On these occasions angels of God draw especially near, and hearts are impressed; and who can measure the results?

Visible Results

While it is true that the colporteur’s work is largely seed sowing, and, consequently, he does not often have the joy of seeing the fruit of his labor, as does the minister or Bible worker, yet there are cases where the seed seems to spring forth quickly and bear fruit. We might give many instances of this kind, but space will allow us to give but one.

One of our field agents, while helping a young man to get started in his work, stopped one night with a family where there were two unconverted young men. Before retiring, the colporteurs stated that it was their custom to hold family worship at home, and if there were no objection they would be glad to read a chapter from the Bible and pray with them before going to bed. Consent was cheerfully given, and worship was held with the family both night and morning.

When the colporteur called to deliver his book, the lady met him at the door with the money for the book, and said: “Oh, I am so glad you have come with that good book! I am so anxious to read it. And I want to tell you that your earnest prayers in our home when you were here made such an impression on my boys that both have been converted and given their hearts to God.”

Thus it is plain that the work of our publishing houses and colporteurs is purely evangelical, and the good being accomplished can be measured only by eternity. W. W. EASTMAN.