p. 20 | The Work in the Field by W. W. Eastman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1915

The Work in the Field

By W. W. Eastman

At the close of the publishers' and home missionary convention held in Nashville, Tenn., and reported in the REVIEW of January 21 by Brother R. L. Pierce, I visited three colporteurs' institutes.

The first one was at Knoxville, Tenn., in the Cumberland Conference, where I was pleased to form the acquaintance of a most excellent class of workers, who, through the energetic efforts of the field agent and the president of the conference, had been gathered in for study and preparation for the work. The conference has taken a live interest in this branch of the work for a number of years, and is reaping good returns as a result, both in persons being brought into the truth and in a financial way.

Three years ago the conference tract society took over the book work which had been handled previously by the publishing house. At that time there were practically no tract society funds, no stock, and no office equipment, but through the prospering hand of the Lord the society has been able each month to meet its obligations to the publishing house, and now has a good stock paid for, a well-equipped office, and sufficient funds with which to carry on its work,

and best of all, a strong corps of colporteurs, who are placing thousands of dollars' worth of our literature in the homes of the people every year. More calls are coming in for the living preacher than can be filled; persons are accepting the truth; the tithes and offerings have greatly increased. The Cumberland Conference is awake to the importance of this work, and the work in that field is moving forward most encouragingly.

On my way to Ohio I stopped one day at Nicholasville, Ky., where I spoke in the forenoon, afternoon, and at night. I was especially pleased to form the acquaintance of more than thirty of as fine a class of men and women as I ever saw in any one institute. This was made possible by the energetic efforts of the conference president in cooperation with the field agent, in keeping the importance of this work before the churches and carefully selecting those who give promise of success.

During the past four years Kentucky has more than trebled her membership, and every church has a church building. Like the Cumberland Conference, this conference has been carrying forward a strong colporteur work, which has greatly strengthened the work of the ministry. Through this agency the most remote districts are reached, and wonderful results are being realized. Calls for the living preacher are coming from numerous places. The president of the conference and two ordained ministers are kept more than busy looking after these interests. Here, as at Knoxville, one very encouraging feature was that both local and union conference presidents were in attendance, taking an active part in the instruction of the workers who were to go into the field to give the gospel message in the form of the printed page. It was inspiring to see these presidents teaching a select class of sturdy men and women how to sell our large subscription books. When the men who stand at the head of our evangelistic work will take a personal interest in the selection and training of this class of workers, we may expect to see our colporteur work occupy the place designed by the Lord as an evangelizing agency; and why should it not be so? Who should be more interested in the proper management of this work than our union and local conference presidents?

At Columbus, Ohio, I very much enjoyed a week with the thirty or more colporteurs who were gathered in their annual institute. Here as at the other places, it was a source of encouragement to note the splendid class of workers giving their lives to evangelistic canvassing. One cannot but be impressed in meeting men in these institutes who have left high-salaried and responsible positions in the world to enter the work of God. In these conferences we met men who had for years filled positions as policemen, street car managers, engineers, life insurance agents, salesmen, well-to-do farmers, and telegraph operators. They had given up these positions for the truth, and are now devoting their lives to the sale of our literature. Surely the Lord's hand is in this work, and he is calling men from various walks of life to engage in it. While at Columbus I received an invitation from Professor Salisbury to visit Mount Vernon Academy.

In company with Elder Slade, president of the conference, I improved the opportunity, speaking on Sunday night in the church and to the students in chapel on Monday morning. This was my first visit to this institution, and the hearty reception and kind expressions of appreciation were very encouraging indeed. A large number of the students are enjoying the advantages of the school through the sale of our literature, and indicated their intention of spending the summer in the same good work.

While at Mount Vernon, I was glad to take advantage of the opportunity to call on the Ohio Tract Society and note its neat, conveniently located, and well-equipped office, and was pleased to learn that 1914 had been a prosperous year for its work. Its sales for the year amounted to $42,000, enabling the society to turn over to the conference about $1,200 after paying all its bills at the publishing house, and providing itself with a good stock of books, and cash enough in the bank to carry on its work.

Not so many workers were in attendance at the Ohio institute as last year, but they were a carefully selected class who had made a success in life, and most of them had already had one or more years' experience in the field. If one can judge from the spirit of earnestness and consecration of those who were in attendance, 1915 will mark another prosperous year for our colporteur work in Ohio.

I have never seen more encouraging omens of the success and prosperity of this department of our work than were shown in the attendance and in the spirit of those who were present at these institutes. I firmly believe the present year will mark a new era in the progress of our work. W. W. EASTMAN.