Working the Large Cities by THOS. H. DAVIS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1909

Working the Large Cities

By THOS. H. DAVIS

I HAVE been noticing what the Testimonies, from time to time, say about working the large cities. Sister E. G. White also spoke of this during the recent General Conference in Washington. For one, I am convinced that the time has come when we should work the large cities of South America. If there ever was a time when the people in these cities need the truth, it is now. Several of our denominational books are coming out in Spanish, and there should be scores of laborers to place these works in the hands of the people.

From personal experience, I can say that it pays to work the neglected cities. Several years ago while canvassing for our large books in Valparaiso and Santiago, Chile, the Lord blessed me with success. After that I tried Guayaquil and Quito, in Ecuador, with marked success; but I always thought that Lima, the capital of Peru, noted for the purest Spanish blood of South America, and for the greatest style, would be the hardest field. But this did not prove the case. The first day I went out in Lima with “Patriarchs and Prophets,” I took no orders, but I made up my mind that the fault was with me, and not with the people. The second day I went into the better district, and took sixteen orders in three hours’ actual work. There is nothing that makes a person happier than taking orders or selling the printed page.

I have been out with several of the boys to show them how to sell books, and they seem to get the spirit of the work. The other day I worked in Calle Union, Lima, where all the fine stores are, and took twelve orders, several from the managers. On the same street was

President Leguia’s office. The cashier, by the same name, gave me his order, saying, as he did so, that he wanted the book in order to learn the Protestant religion.

Now is the time to sell our books to these people, while they are throwing off the Roman yoke. What is our duty, brethren? It seems to me we should place in their hands literature treating on the message we believe.

Brother A. N. Allen went out with me one day, and in a little while we had seven orders. He was encouraged, and tried selling “Coming King” in Callao, and in two hours he took ten orders. A native brother has taken Brother Allen’s prospectus, and will continue taking orders.

One young man has just come in from canvassing in Concepcion, an interior town where he was put in prison on a feast day, by the governor, for not taking his hat off while the procession passed on Corpus Christi day. He had to spend twenty-four hours in jail, and was to pay twenty-five sols, but he refused to pay this sum. He talked to the governor and showed from the Bible that he was not guilty of any offense.

In two months the canvassers here have sold more than was sold in all of 1908. So much for a good canvassers’ institute. The more of them we can have, the better. As our works are being placed in the hands of the upper class, we expect to see fruit. There is a great work to be done for them. This is the reason we call for young men from the States to canvass these large cities. Brethren, we need men to work the cities of South America. How many of you would like to come? How many of you will come?

THOS. H. DAVIS, Field Agent South American West Coast.